I've found, after some sober time, that I spend about 1/3 the energy not drinking than I did drinking. Take the party you're very wisely choosing not to attend for example.. 3-5min phone call and done. If you went to the party 2-4 days of feeling like crap and hating yourself. I think the AV 'complicates/magnifies' not drinking into some HUGE ordeal,but it's really not. It's way easier/less stressful to not drink than to drink and be 'OK'. "nosce Te Ipsum"