There was a time when I clung to the hope that I was "just a heavy drinker." I hoped against hope that's all I was so I could learn to moderate my drinking. I tried everything to drink less and be okay with it.
I used the fact that I've never had a DUI to keep drinking. I used the fact that I've never been arrested to keep drinking. I used the fact that I've never been hospitalized to keep drinking. It is incredible how we'll justify anything as a reason to keep drinking.
It didn't work and I continued to drink large amounts of alcohol and made myself sick every day.
I was able to stop when I accepted that I'd never be able to drink in moderation.