Hi humblestudent,
I have been hanging around SR since last December but only recently "discovered" the Secular Connections forum. AVRT is a great technique, and lordy (ha!) do I wish I'd known about it years ago.
I've been cruising the threads on this forum, too. It's wonderful to find like-minded people to shore up all the stuff I already know is right for my life.
Congratulations on your sober time! I've been free of alcohol for over 20 years, but just recently was addicted to opiates after having double total knee replacements. That was a 2+ year hell ride I don't care to repeat, and I used the same technique to stop the opiates that I did with alcohol. I went cold turkey, and I simply DO NOT USE. Period.
Good luck on this. It CAN be done, and life can still be fun without the alcohol or drugs.
FT