Only the once...
I have been drinking heavily for 6 years and have only ever stopped once. That was 4 years ago and I stopped for 3 months. Told myself I was ok to drink again and you guessed it..... I wasnt. I have not been for a day without a drink since. I even drank when I wasnt well. Nothing stopped me. And then all of a sudden I had enough. Got sick and tired of being sick and tired. My eyes went really dull over night and the fear of what this might mean had me running to the doctors for bloods. He said I didt have jaundice but my MCV levels were high and my B12 was low. Drank heavily for a couple of months after finding this out. I got fed up being scared and anxious all the time. I got fed up of looking at other people around me and envying them for not being an alcoholic.
I wish everyone trying to beat this the best of luck - we all need it as it is far from easy.