Are You “Strong Enough” or Just Stubborn? (Self-Control & Willpower) (E287)

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When we think about getting sober, most of the focus is on not drinking, but we don’t think about what to start doing to actually rewire the brain and move forward. In this episode, I’ll explain why white-knuckling doesn’t work. You’ll learn about why willpower is not the most important factor for staying sober, how being “strong” prevents us from getting support, and what you can do differently to make progress. It’s not about convincing yourself of all the bad health effects of alcohol or powering through temptation, because if those things were effective long term strategies, then relapse rates wouldn’t be so high. I will also discuss how taking on the label of an “alcoholic” is a barrier for many people that keeps us isolated and drinking.

What to listen to next:

E274: High Dopamine, Low Effort Behaviors and Making Sobriety Feel Less Hard

E267: Resources vs Support: Are You Setting Yourself Up For Success?

Resources I offer:

Sober Support:

• Community & Meetings: Living a Sober Powered Life

• Weekly emails on Fridays

 Work with me:

• Sober Coaching

Courses:

• The non-negotiable mindset

• Sober milestones: what to expect when you quit drinking

• Willpower Course

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If you enjoyed this episode please consider buying me a coffee to support all the research and effort that goes into this podcast. This is a one woman show!

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Cite:

Gillian Tietz. Are You “Strong Enough” or Just Stubborn? (E287). Sober Powered. 2025

Please respect my intellectual property and properly credit me if you share my work.

Sources

1. Ent, M. et al. Trait self-control and the avoidance of temptation. Personality and Individual Differences. 2015

2. Snoek A, Levy N, Kennett J. Strong-willed but not successful: The importance of strategies in recovery from addiction. Addict Behav Rep. 2016

3. ldroyd C, Avades T, Martin GP, Notley C, Allison MED. Motivation, self-efficacy, and identity-double-edged swords for relapse prevention in patients with alcohol related cirrhosis. Alcohol Alcohol. 2025

4. Blaxter  M, Cyster  R. Compliance and risk-taking: the case of alcoholic liver disease. Sociol Health Illn. 1984