I don't want to get into specifics, but I just couldn't live like that any longer. After about a year of sobriety I realized that I didn't have many positive memories associated with alcohol.
Being sober actually allowed me to start reflecting on my life and lead me to start thinking about things. Ironically, it was also a catalyst into me learning about Marxism as well.
Dude. Sobriety was so important in my radicalization and moving from disaffected and alienated to educated and principled. I didn’t realize how badly alcohol had lead me astray until things got out of hand, and now I too am multiple years sober. Keep it up!
Good for you. How do you feel after all those years?
I had a period of 8 months sober some years ago. I can handle my alcohol now, though I am slowly starting to drink less and less. It's been three weeks since my last drink, actually. Sometimes I want to fully quit as well, but since I don't have a problem and I like to drink a beer every once in a while, I keep wondering if I should.
Big difference between substance misuse and substance use comrade, if you have a healthy relationship with it now thats great and likely doesnt need changing; for some people a clean break is the only way however.
Its all about the relationship you have with it and where it lands on your life priority list; when substances start becoming more important priorities than real life shit is when they tend to become issues.
As a functional alcoholic who wants to quit (I've done it twice, but gave in to temptation), I salute you. The first five or so days are the hardest. Then, it's like, why would I want that?