Like most of the previous posters, it depends on the individual. I knew a person who went back out after 2+ years.....she was miserable...I, on the other hand, am happy, joyous, and free.
For me, the moment I made the recovery decision, my life changed for the better.....wooooohooooo Fear of relapse? I couldn't live under that cloud. Yes, I heard the horror stories when I first came into recovery, but I made the decision that this was a life change, no looking back.....no relapse for me. When I would say that or 'I will never drink/use again,' I was told 1)never say never, and 2)I was a relapse waiting to happen - well, 21+ years I'm still waiting ... lol (not really) I never understood when those same folks who said 'never say never' would turn around and say things like 'no matter what, I won't pick up.' To me that's the same thing.....ah well....it's a world of perceptions.....
NoelleR