Our disease is progressive, embarrassments lead to changing my circle of friends to folks who were more accepting of my proclivities, but eventually it became preferable to drink alone. Gradually drinking came to consume all of my non-work/non-sleep time. Eventually I was so tired of my life as it was that I considered suicide. Knowing that would be an irreversible choice, I tried quitting drinking instead... but I had to think about it (seriously).
I learned to live by working my sobriety as though my life depended on it.