Interesting... I read the first couple sentences of the OP and said to myself, he's talking about the placebo effect. Then in the next sentence you mention placebo...
The mind is amazing.
When I decided to quit drinking, I just decided to quit drinking for my own good. I really needed no "method". The only "method" I understood was to not drink. The rest would fall into place.
Was it easy? Yes and no. But as long as I stood by my decision and refused to allow alcohol to ever affect my life again, it was a given.
Do I have to remind myself occasionally why I quit? Absolutely. And when I do, the desire to drink goes right out the window.
The belief that alcohol had a profound effect on my life - a negative effect - is paramount to my conviction and ability to abstain forever.
Not only is it a belief, it is the absolute factual truth.