Glad you are here WhyNot - and like Guener said, that's great insight. I think most of us have some arrested development tied to when we either started drinking or it was headed toward the worst...mine would be mid- late 20s and I quit at 39. The good news is that we can learn or relearn stuff we "missed."
Do you have a plan now? Sounds like implementing and keeping habits whether tapes or I'd say, more importantly, a program of action, could help sustain you so you don't slide away like you describe.
The Class of June thread is up here- good way to get to know peeps quitting now.