When I relapsed, it took me four and a half years to get sober again. I kept trying all kinds of things to keep from drinking but it never lasted long; I was getting more and more out of control and increasingly afraid of what I might do when drunk.
Being around others trying to get sober and working the 12 Steps in my life made the big difference for me, so I finally gave in and went back to AA meetings. Even though I felt very awkward, they welcomed me back and I've been sober now for over 3 years.