Thank you for the responses and warm welcomes everyone. It means a lot!
Dee74: I will definitely look into the different approaches to recovery, so thanks for that link.
wpainterw: I have unfortunately gone through quite a few relapses already because of my job. Entering a different line of work while going to school is something I have looked in to many times. I love the quick money made behind the bar and I am also quite attached to all of the customers that come in there. And since I have an alcohol dependency leaving behind a job that offers me as much free alcohol as I want in many different varieties is hard to leave behind, even though it is necessary.
Leaving behind this job is important for my health but it will also force me to leave behind friendships I've had for years, which is very hard to do. In my town there are
very few people who are sober so making new, sober friends will be difficult (if not nearly impossible). How have you guys dealt with your drinking friends and kept the friendships alive while remaining sober?