Originally Posted by
zenchaser 
I think a lot of the addiction is that we had built strong neural pathways by constantly reinforcing the behaviour, which is why relapse is so common early on, the addict hasn't formed new ones yet and the default is still to use.
This is your Addictive Voice, zenchaser. If you'll recall, the AV is quite simply any thinking or feeling that contradicts your Big Plan in any way, shape, or form. The AV is also
a comprehensive style of thinking, which is centered around the cardinal rule of addiction: "never say never to the possible future use of alcohol and other drugs."
The idea that you must first wait for brand new neural pathways to develop before you can definitely avoid "having a relapse" very obviously contradicts never drinking again, and never changing your mind. It is AV, because it supports, and suggests, the possibility of drinking some more alcohol, at least until those 'new neural pathways' develop.