Originally Posted by Ken0331

Well, for me the pain of my last drunk and the consequences of it weren't enough to use as something to keep me from drinking. The pain lessens over time, and I couldn't remember it vividly enough to curb the addiction.

And that's a good thing. When I remember the times I've had terrible physical pain, it's a good thing I can't re-experience it, re-feel it at that level. The body is designed to forget such trauma.

What did work for me was a desire - born of desperation - to live differently. And it didn't take long until the positive reinforcements I get from sobriety became more appealing to me than getting drunk. Once that happened, I no longer needed to use negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is always better. Ever train a dog?

At first it was, "I have to get sober."
Now it's, "I want to be sober, b/c this way of living is so much damn better."