Originally Posted by
jkb 
I feel like a f***ing loser. I was doing so well and now I just feel like giving up.
This is an unfortunate by-product of defining success
exclusively as total lifetime abstinence (TLA).
TLA is a worthy and noble goal, no doubt about it. But...
In the past I got drunk every day. If I set my goal as TLA, but only succeeded at reducing my drunkenness to once a month am I a total failure? I think not. Even at one drunk a month I've made my life a helluva lot better than every day.
As has been pointed out, TLA is easier to manage for those of us with a beast sporting a maladaptive appetite for alcohol. Falling short, however, is not a complete disaster. It's just not complete success. Do not confuse those two things.
Your beast wants you to feel hopeless. She lies. (Remember?)
C'mon back, please. I've work to do here and I need your help.