Originally Posted by
ClearMind 
II am using this as one of the reasons for avoiding relapse, as I keep telling myself that it will only be harder next time.
It's certainly a good reason to not drink again, it will be harder. There are physiological and mental reasons as to why ( see the kindling link ) but the bottom line is - yes, it will get harder each time. I can say from personal experience that for me it got worse every time I had some sobriety and then went back to drinking.
Notice I didn't use the word "relapse" either, because in my mind, either you drink or you don't. A relapse suggests that we have a condition that comes and goes - but with alcoholism you are always an alcoholic. We merely choose to abstain or drink, and when we choose to drink bad things happen because we are alcoholics.