Leanna Lapidus is a leading Addiction Recovery Specialist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Life Coach based in Los Angeles, California, with over a decade of experience. Offering both in-person and online sessions, she provides comprehensive care to clients worldwide.
When someone is struggling with alcohol dependency, it’s common to hear the phrase “Alcoholism is a disease.” While this perspective has gained traction, it can inadvertently strip people of their power to heal. Through my work as a hypnotherapist specializing in addressing the core causes of addiction, I’ve seen a different truth emerge: alcoholism is a symptom of unresolved emotional pain, such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. When we focus on healing the root causes, we empower individuals to regain control of their lives and break free from dependency. Healing and transformation happen quickly when these root causes are addressed.
Shifting the narrative: Alcoholism as a coping mechanism
Alcohol dependency often begins as a way to cope with emotional pain or stress. For many, it’s an attempt to numb overwhelming feelings, quiet anxious thoughts, or escape unresolved trauma. However, when alcohol becomes the go-to solution, it creates a cycle of dependence that feels inescapable.
Labeling alcoholism as a disease can feel comforting at first because it removes personal responsibility, but it also fosters helplessness, implying that recovery requires a lifelong struggle against something beyond your control. This narrative is disempowering and overlooks the deeper emotional wounds that drive the behavior.
Addiction as a learned behavior: Unhypnotizing the cycle through hypnotherapy
Through over 14 years of experience as a hypnotherapist, I have learned that addiction is not something to be fought or eradicated; it is a practiced behavior, a coping mechanism developed over time to manage emotional pain, trauma, anxiety, or depression. Addiction isn’t a permanent part of who we are but rather a learned response that becomes ingrained through repetition. These behaviors can be “unhypnotized” through hypnotherapy, where individuals tap into their subconscious to release the patterns that keep them stuck in the cycle of dependency.
The process of healing involves breaking free from the behaviors associated with addiction and, more importantly, learning new ways of living. Hypnotherapy, combined with my unique holistic methods, helps individuals reconnect with their inner peace, align with their true purpose, and create lasting change. By rewiring the subconscious mind, clients can replace negative, self-destructive patterns with healthier, empowering ones that support emotional resilience and personal growth.
Healing the root causes of addiction
Through my holistic approach to hypnotherapy, clients rapidly transform their relationship with alcohol by addressing the underlying issues causing their dependency. This process involves identifying and replacing old, negative thoughts and emotional patterns that contribute to addictive behaviors with new, positive, and empowering ones. Addiction is not just a physical condition; it is fundamentally a mental and emotional health issue. By understanding and healing these aspects, clients can break free from the cycle of dependency and reclaim their lives.
Here’s how we shift from powerless to empowered
1. Understanding the role of trauma
Unresolved trauma often lies at the core of addiction. Whether it stems from childhood experiences, relationships, or significant life events, trauma shapes our subconscious beliefs about safety, worthiness, and connection. Alcohol may temporarily dull the pain, but the emotional wounds remain.
Through hypnotherapy and my holistic methods, we access the subconscious mind, where these traumas are stored. We heal, learn from, and reframe them. This process helps release the grip of the past, allowing the individual to heal and creating space for healthier coping mechanisms.
2. Healing emotional and mental trauma
Trauma manifests in many forms, from deeply emotional scars to intrusive mental visions that feel impossible to escape. These unprocessed experiences often fuel addiction as individuals seek solace in alcohol.
Hypnotherapy offers a safe space to confront and heal these traumas, enabling clients to break free from their hold. By accessing the subconscious, we help reframe negative memories, reduce the intensity of traumatic visions, and create a foundation for emotional stability.
3. Calming anxiety and releasing depression
Anxiety and depression are common drivers of alcohol dependency. The constant inner turmoil of anxious thoughts or the heaviness of depression can make alcohol seem like a quick fix. However, alcohol is a depressant and often exacerbates these conditions over time, creating a vicious cycle.
Hypnotherapy, paired with my holistic techniques, provides tools to calm the mind and rewire negative thought patterns. By addressing the root causes of anxiety and depression, clients regain emotional balance and no longer feel the need to turn to alcohol for relief.
4. Reclaiming your power
The belief that you are powerless over alcohol is one of the most damaging myths surrounding addiction. In reality, the power to heal and change resides within you. Hypnotherapy helps you reconnect with this inner strength, rewriting the subconscious programming that keeps you stuck. When you believe you can overcome addiction, your actions align with that belief.
Calling yourself an addict every day reinforces the belief that there’s no escape, keeping individuals trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and fear. My approach shifts the focus to empowerment, fostering a forward-looking perspective that emphasizes healing, building emotional resilience, and unlocking tangible changes in daily life. By confronting the root causes of addiction, individuals can step into their personal power, gaining clarity, confidence, and the ability to rewrite their story.
Leanna Lapidus’ "Choose life over addiction" program
If you’re ready to take control of your life, the "Choose Life Over Addiction" program offers a structured, compassionate path to healing. This program is designed to:
Address the root causes of addiction, including trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Rewire subconscious patterns through hypnotherapy and holistic methods to build resilience and emotional balance.
Equip you with practical tools and techniques to manage triggers and stress without relying on alcohol.
Foster self-awareness and a renewed sense of empowerment.
With a focus on holistic healing, the "Choose Life Over Addiction" program guides you to release emotional pain, rediscover your worth, and reclaim a life of freedom and purpose. You don’t have to do this alone; support and transformation are within your reach.
A holistic path to freedom
Recovery is not about battling a disease but about healing the whole person. A holistic approach, one that addresses the mind, body, and spirit, is essential for lasting transformation. Here are some key components:
Self-awareness: Understanding the mental and emotional triggers that lead to drinking.
Emotional release: Using hypnotherapy and holistic techniques to process and release suppressed emotions.
Reconnection: Building a sense of safety and self-worth from within.
Support: Surround yourself with compassionate individuals who empower you.
You are not broken; you are healing
The idea that alcoholism is a disease implies something is fundamentally wrong with you. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You are not broken; you are navigating pain in the best way you’ve known how. The journey to recovery is about learning healthier ways to cope and reconnecting with your true self.
Through a compassionate, empowering approach, and in my professional experience of over 14 years, I have witnessed individuals not only release their alcohol dependence but also embrace their inner strength and uncover a renewed sense of purpose. You are not powerless; you hold extraordinary power within you. By addressing and healing the emotional wounds at the heart of addiction, you can reclaim your life with profound confidence and clarity.
Final thoughts
Addiction is not a disease; it is a symptom of deeper mental and emotional pain. By addressing core causes such as trauma, anxiety, and depression, you can break free from dependency and step into a life of empowerment. Hypnotherapy and my unique holistic methods offer a safe, supportive space to uncover and heal the root issues, helping you reclaim your power and create lasting change.
Here’s what clients are saying
"Working with Leanna has been life-changing. Her compassionate approach helped me understand the root of my addiction and gave me the tools to heal. I’ve gone from feeling powerless to truly believing in my ability to create a better life. Hypnotherapy opened a door I never thought was possible."– A Grateful Client
Take the first step toward freedom
Discover how hypnotherapy and holistic methods can help you break free from alcohol dependency by addressing the root causes of addiction, such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. You are not defined by your struggles. You are defined by your strength to overcome them.
If you’re ready to take the first step on your journey to freedom, know that healing is possible, and it begins within you. Explore how hypnotherapy and my "Choose Life Over Addiction" program can transform your life. Visit here or schedule a free consultation to learn more about the tools and support available to you.
Read more from Leanna Lapidus
Leanna Lapidus, Hypnotherapist, Life Coach & Addiction Specialist
Leanna Lapidus is a seasoned Hypnotherapist specializing in addiction recovery and mental health; author of “You Have a Choice” is the creator of “Choose Life Over Addiction” and “Start Living” programs. Having overcome personal life challenges and the impact of family addiction, she understands the challenges clients face. Recognizing the connection between addiction and mental health, Leanna offers specialized care to address both simultaneously. Her approach is centered on empowering clients to overcome challenges and build a fulfilling life. Having worked at Passages Malibu Addiction Treatment Center for ten years, she brings a unique perspective and a proven track record of helping individuals transform their lives.
