Welcome sir.
Us addicts have scientifically proven permanent brain damage. Connections in our brains have been damaged and they will never return.
Drugs (booze) give us a rush of euphoria that we crave over and over. Like any addiction (e.g. food, sex, gambling) we want the rush and the only way to get it is to do the addiction.
On top of that when we get high our body begins to stop producing natural endorphins etc. So the only way to feel great is to get high.
I learned that through heavy exercise I can get high. The natural high lasts for much longer than a drug induced high.
In between chances to get a natural high, I crave. I suffer.
In time our body adapts to what is left of our brain connections and we can normalize to an extent. But, the crave is for life.
1 month, 1 year, 10 years, etc etc. The crave will manifest.
Strategies for defeating the crave include posting on SR, going to AA meetings, therapy, projects, painting, exercise, etc etc etc.
Just don't drink.
That is all for now.
Thanks for the therapy.