Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol

Whitaker recalls how her failure to manage her cravings for cigarettes and alcohol, and other habits from bulimia to nail-biting, convinced her that she had poor discipline and self-control. However, recovery is not all about willpower, Whitaker explains. It is also about understanding decision-making and habit formation, and she attributes her personal success to this understanding.

One barrier to objective decision making is confirmation bias, the psychological phenomenon in which people tend to focus on information that confirms their preexisting beliefs. For instance, if someone believes that quitting alcohol is impossible, they will focus on stories of failure and relapse to confirm this preexisting bias. Another issue for addicts is cognitive dissonance, in which essentially conflicting thoughts keep people from fully committing to their decision. By following Allen Carr’s mantra of never questioning her decision, Whitaker cured herself of cognitive dissonance and committed fully to her sobriety.

The author addresses the issue of willpower and brain capacity. Neuroscientists call willpower “inhibition” and believe it is a function of the prefrontal cortex. This region of the brain requires a great deal of energy to fuel, and the more it is used, the more fatigued it becomes throughout the day. According to this theory, willpower is like a muscle that tires over time until eventually, it does not work anymore.