Addiction Unlimited Podcast

Tired of Starting Over? Why Willpower Isn’t Enough to Quit Drinking


Listen Later

Listen On:

You’re not failing—your method is.

You’ve already tried harder.
You’ve done the dry weeks.
You’ve poured bottles down the sink.
You’ve promised yourself, “Just weekends. Just one. This time it will stick.”

And yet, here you are… back in the same shame spiral, asking yourself: “Why can’t I get it together?”

In this episode of Addiction Unlimited, we’re burning down the biggest lie in sobriety: that if you just had more willpower, you’d finally quit drinking for good.

👉 Spoiler alert: willpower is a faulty system. Every. Single. Time.

What you actually need is a system—one that gives you structure, support, and solutions so you can stop starting over and finally move forward.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 🧠 Why willpower fails (and always will) — the science behind anxiety, decision fatigue, and why your brain defaults to alcohol when it’s overwhelmed.

  • ⚙️ The 3 Pillars of Lasting Recovery — my proven framework: Science, Strategy, and Self.

  • 📌 How to design your sober system — calming rituals, accountability, and practical tools that give you relief without a drink.

  • 🚫 The ego trap of “testing yourself” — why it’s total BS and guaranteed to keep you stuck.

  • 💪 Radical personal responsibility — the boundaries you must set with people, places, and yourself to protect your sobriety.

    By the end, you’ll understand exactly why trying harder has never worked for you—and how to replace the endless loop of Day Ones with a system that actually sticks.

    🎧 Hit play now, because you don’t need more motivation. You don’t need another Day One. You need a system. And this is where it starts.

    🔑 Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode:
    • Listen to Ep. 275: Relief Not Relapse

    • Book your free call: addictionunlimited.com/call

    • Cozy Earth — Use code ANGELA for 40% off: CozyEarth.com

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Addiction Unlimited PodcastBy Angela Pugh

      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7
      • 4.7

      4.7

      473 ratings


      More shows like Addiction Unlimited Podcast

      View all
      Recovery Elevator by Paul Churchill

      Recovery Elevator

      1,706 Listeners

      The Addicted Mind Podcast by Duane Osterlind, LMFT

      The Addicted Mind Podcast

      636 Listeners

      This Naked Mind Podcast by Annie Grace

      This Naked Mind Podcast

      2,590 Listeners

      A Sober Girls Guide Podcast by A Sober Girls Guide

      A Sober Girls Guide Podcast

      439 Listeners

      Alcohol Free Life - Janey Lee Grace by Janey Lee Grace

      Alcohol Free Life - Janey Lee Grace

      115 Listeners

      The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women by Casey McGuire Davidson

      The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women

      720 Listeners

      Alcohol-Free Lifestyle by James Swanwick

      Alcohol-Free Lifestyle

      224 Listeners

      Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober by Gillian Tietz, MS, CPRC

      Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober

      1,231 Listeners

      How I quit alcohol by Danni Carr

      How I quit alcohol

      193 Listeners

      Sober Awkward by soberawkward

      Sober Awkward

      357 Listeners

      Sober Stories from Everyday People by sassysobermum

      Sober Stories from Everyday People

      67 Listeners

      The Sober Mom Life by Suzanne Warye

      The Sober Mom Life

      1,071 Listeners

      2 Sober Girls Podcast by Erinn + Michaela

      2 Sober Girls Podcast

      193 Listeners

      Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories by Brad McLeod

      Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

      587 Listeners

      Happiest Sober Podcast by Madeline Forrest

      Happiest Sober Podcast

      217 Listeners