Originally Posted by
Tatsy 
Therefore learning AVRT or Mindfulness ensures that there's a sentry/bouncer on the door of the sub-conscious, filtering and rejecting automatic thought (AV) when it arises and tries to pass through the conscious door and instigate action - drinking. The conscious mind will immediately recognise, then dismiss the AV thoughts - before they gain momentum and enlist the army of feelings, emotions, images etc., which are contained in our previously conditioned, alcohol seeking brain memory banks.
The sentry analgy is great. Perhaps a difference in how they operate is that while both recognise AV when it arises, the AVRT sentry acts like a bouncer refusing entry to an undesirsble guest whereas mindfulness acts more like a cop keepimg unwelcome passers-by moving along. Hope that's not stretching the metaphor too far!