Hello Jungle Girl:
Early in sobriety I came to grips with the fact that drinking wasn't my real problem... living sober was.
After a couple of years in AA I remember the feeling of "Holy $hit, this is for life" coming over me but by that time I knew booze/drugs wasn't the answer and being comfortable with the fact that I shouldn't drink again (any more than I should entertain the idea of french kissing a cobra).
Now what do I do to get comfortable in my own skin sober ??!! .. I chose AA as a program of recovery.
It works for me.
I hope you have Googled and read AA's "The Doctors Opinion", "How It Works" and "The Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous". See if you can identify.
All the best.
Bob R.