"My body and brain both convinced we’re getting a bottle."

In treatment, you are in a bubble—a safe space with structure, support, and meals provided. Eventually, you have to return to the real world and drive the same streets that hold your old issues and old habits .

Six weeks sober and feeling strong, John T. was blindsided by a physical reflex triggered by a familiar liquor store . In this episode, we explore:

• The Physical Reflex: Why a craving isn't a sign of failure, but a "map" that needs reprogramming .

• The Strategy: How 20 years of campaigning didn't prepare John for a hijacked brain .

• The Re-Calibration: The power of speaking your truth out loud to an empty car to physically turn the wheel a different way .

Recovery begins when words become actions. If you are navigating your own old maps today, remember: you are the one behind the wheel.

You never know the battles people are carrying.

This poem is for Cindy —
loved, respected, missed.

If this hits close to home, you’re not alone.