Originally Posted by
ImNotThatGuy 
"Can you ACCEPT never, ever, drinking again?"
Yes, I accept that I cannot drink and will do what it takes to never pick up another drink.
Glad you are here and glad you said this....one thing I will say from experience is that I had to stop saying what I WOULDN'T do (ie AA) to get sober. Plenty of ways to put our decision to get sober permanently into action - the thing is doing it, and again, and again every day.
For me, that's meant a whole lot more than just not drinking- learning how to live, what it means, what kind of life I want...mentally, emotionally (and yes, physically), everything. I don't know anyone who hasn't begun to make different choices in life who succeeds in ongoing sobriety. And, unlike what you did before with those 5 yrs- you don't have to do it alone! We get it. Lots of folks IRL do, too.
You don't have to live the alcoholic life like most of your family. Glad you are with us.