Awesome to hear bro!! I've had couple good stints (9 months completely sober, 5 months only drinking weekends and no work nights) but have regressed lately due to pandemic lockdown and not being able to work.
I keep telling myself to stop thinking big picture (world, country, state) and focus on myself first, then family, then community etc. It's always easier to tell yourself something than to take action. Have done 2x5 day binges of non-stop drinking. The dryouts are never fun but here I am.
To answer OPs question my good news is I purchased my first house 3 months ago and once lockdowns lift I can work from home.
If you have difficult cravings, I have two ideas that might help you.
1) Recognize that your desire to drink compulsively is not your desire. It is your addiction, or a hole you are seeking to fill speaking as you. It isn't something you want, that's why you regret it after, because you think you want it, but the truth is your body wants it.
2) Temperature Shocking. I have no idea if this works, or is an established technique, but I find it to work wonders for nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Start by wearing coats so hot you can barely handle it. When it's too much to bear, take your coats off and go into the coldest environment you can as fast as possible. It feels really good and seems to make the tingles and cravings lessen.
You can do the latter by hopping in a sauna and then jumping in an ice-cold lake (or if you don't have an ice cold lake, a cold shower).
Yeah get rid of the urge. My urge disappeared because of how DEPRESSED I suddenly started getting the day after. NOT just the usual hangover, DEPRESSION..stay in bed all day.
OOH. I'd look at what I posted the previous night (never did that before really) on voat. DEFINATE difference in demeanor (not in a good way). SHAME. REGRET.
Do it for you (my suggestion in MY case)...not guilted into it like (for the family, town, world, etc). ALL of that comes along for the ride when you quit. Do it because it makes YOU feel BAD instead of GOOD (like you wanted). Depressed, regretful, etc. Get rid of the URGE, desire. It started making me DEPRESSED (next day) so BAD, that I didn't want to do it again because of that feeling. That gives way eventually to just not thinking about it. If you do, doesn't appear as an option of any value.
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