I quit quite a few times. I did quit for 11 1/2 months, and celebrated that achievement with a 12 pack of Molson Red Label and a pint of Fleishman's Whiskey. Ended up in some after hours club in New London, Ct. Lost my car, got picked up for creating a disturbance trying to summon the aid of police to help me find my car. They resisted helping me and I resisted arrest.
I can't drink safely. I can't have one.

Oh trust me...it IS a great TRICK to get sober...some people never can.

I agree staying sober is hard and it involves a lot more than tricks. It involves much work and insight into ones troubled behaviors and emotions.

AA is not the only answer...it is a good one to start with to learn different ways of thinking and the short little sayings they have are very helpful....

But, I found when doing the big book study group...I was not QUALIFIED to go thru that process and have the insight I needed to heal....I needed a therapist for that. I was too sick to even know how to see inside my soul and be honest about what I saw.

I would suggest taking the Big Book 12 step study form...filling it out and taking it to a therapist.

I Used the Big Book as a road map with a hard core bunch of steppers !but I also had many long time members just to have long winded and open ended discussions as they say "If I cant put some distance between me and the drink " what clouds up my mind is entertaining a scenario in my head that only requires more defense which is far from workable as a abstinence builder I think

Yes! I did AA after many hospital trips, jail sentences and several severe car wrecks. I stayed sober long enough to begin to see that the root cause may only be the distraction Im hiding behind.

But in getting sober the step work and all the therapy and informative books began to come together just like Sosa is talking about right NoW!!

Stayin stopped gives one longevity which beats the hell out of all the other options:) Oh that my story after many years sober and I'm sticking to it ...I thought long term treatment looked good after my year sober Ha!! ReallY!!:))

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRQm7Yt77k0

"It is easier to stay clean than to get clean.''

LG1: WELLLLLLLLLL PUT!

Distance from drink has given me some perspective and something to value that's for sure. As well as confidence and experience in the fact I can live day to day without reverting back to the default setting.

While I know some people say that periods of sobriety 'keep them alive' I can't help but think it's better to put a definite marker down and put it in the past. If I'm not always fresh from battling the drink, I can get on with the business of dealing with the thoughts and emotions that go on underneath :)

P

For me getting sober was far harder than staying sober.

There was no trick involved for me in getting sober -- it was so incredibly difficult I am still amazed that I made it through those first hours and days.

Being a nondrinker is now normal for me. I would have to make a conscious decision to drink again and I have no reason or desire to do that.

The "trick" for me was nothing less than a total commitment to living and growing in a more spiritual way which was set in motion by the 12 Step programme.