This post builds on the insights from our 5-part series on the hidden traps that keep us drinking. If you haven’t read the recap post, start there first.
So you’ve seen the mechanisms
You know about the withdrawals, the mental shortcuts, the overload, the memories, and the social pressure.
Now comes the next question:
How do we fix it?
How do we escape a system that’s wired into our thoughts, our feelings, and even our identity?
The answer isn’t force.
It’s rewiring.
Step 1: Understand the Mechanisms That Trap You
Awareness is always the first move.
When we know how the traps work—how our brain misinterprets discomfort, leans on shortcuts, and stores false promises—we stop falling for them.
You’re no longer in the dark. You’re in control.
Step 2: Remove Every False Belief About Alcohol
This is non-negotiable.
If any part of your mind still believes that alcohol provides relief, connection, or confidence, that belief will always override your logic.
The trap loses its power the moment you stop believing alcohol gives you anything.
Step 3: Dissolve Cognitive Dissonance
No more tug-of-war. No more “maybe just one.”
When your mind is fully aligned with the truth—that alcohol has nothing to offer—the struggle ends.
Clarity replaces conflict.
Freedom replaces friction.
Step 4: Rewire Your Automatic Thoughts
Most people try to white-knuckle their triggers.
We don’t.
We replace the old associations with new ones.
We create a mental environment where alcohol isn’t the answer—because it’s not even a question anymore.
And when your default response changes, cravings lose their voice.
Step 5: Handle Cravings—If There Are Any Left
Yes, some urges may still appear—but they’ll be echoes, not emergencies.
By the time you’ve corrected your internal belief system, most cravings disappear on their own.
The rest? You know exactly how to deal with them.
The Simple Truth Behind It All
At the heart of this process is one truth:
What we reinforce, we become.
The more we challenge alcohol’s illusions, the more grounded we become in reality.
The more we align our beliefs with truth, the easier it is to stay free.
This isn’t about battling urges—it’s about eliminating the reason they exist in the first place.
You don’t need more willpower.
You need a mind that’s no longer wired to want the thing that hurts you.
That’s what this work is about.
That’s what sets you free.
— Brent