After years of trying and failing to break my hard liquor habit with the 12-step church, feeling so miserable with each failure that my drinking grew more excessive (for which I don't blame the program), one therapist suggested this habit-replacement concept along with the Parent-Adult-Child model: After a beer and maybe a shot of booze, the desire for another is the Child saying "I want more." Adult simply reports the fact: "Excess alcohol is poisonous." Parent tells Child "That's why another is bad." I imagined the little brat having a screaming temper tantrum, but "he" is small and weak and quickly tires out. Then Parent picks up the Child and says "I love you and want what's best for us. Now let's find something better to do." 2 weeks of playing this scene in my head became simply "I've had enough." I've kept this better habit for over 10 years, no more than 2 nights a week with any alcohol. I've very seldom had more drinks than that, but the headache the next morning always warns me away from repeating it. (Would AA claim I'm still a drunk because I'm not obsessed with perfect sobriety?)
After years of trying and failing to break my hard liquor habit with the 12-step church, feeling so miserable with each failure that my drinking grew more excessive (for which I don't blame the program), one therapist suggested this habit-replacement concept along with the Parent-Adult-Child model: After a beer and maybe a shot of booze, the desire for another is the Child saying "I want more." Adult simply reports the fact: "Excess alcohol is poisonous." Parent tells Child "That's why another is bad." I imagined the little brat having a screaming temper tantrum, but "he" is small and weak and quickly tires out. Then Parent picks up the Child and says "I love you and want what's best for us. Now let's find something better to do." 2 weeks of playing this scene in my head became simply "I've had enough." I've kept this better habit for over 10 years, no more than 2 nights a week with any alcohol. I've very seldom had more drinks than that, but the headache the next morning always warns me away from repeating it. (Would AA claim I'm still a drunk because I'm not obsessed with perfect sobriety?)
That’s called Transactional Analysis. Glad it resonated with you!