When there's a scary monster in the closet you have two choices:
1) Keep the door shut but keep one eye open when you sleep
2) Throw all the lights on, throw the door wide open and look. Just maybe there's nothing in there at all. Maybe it's a moth. Even if it's a hellfiend, leastways you know how many arms, legs and teeth it has and you don't have to let your imagination run wild
On a more serious note, I know people who just want to stop drinking and put the past behind them...not even look at the closet. I get that but...for me...I don't think it would have worked. To quote a film "We may be through with the Past, but the Past ain't through with us".
In recovery, I have been able to sort through all that mess with good friends, counsellors, AA members and so on and come to terms with it. I don't have to live in regret or be scared to open the box. A lot of what was hidden away wasn't as bad as I thought. Like someone said above, all that crap became my biggest asset instead of my greatest fear.
Short answer - don't drink, and deal with whatever comes up.
Good question
P