Originally Posted by
fishkiller 
We can analyze it to death but in the end the only thing that works 100% of the time is to Not Drink Today, No Matter What.
If we do that we can figure the other stuff out later.
^This
For me, the process had to be a behavior change, not an introspective search. Oddly, that only became clear to me after I stopped analyzing and focused on my behavior. I started having those sought after insights when I quit trying to have them. I was still thinking, but it was now entirely about planning to stay out of harm's way, avoiding drinking get-togethers, getting the alcohol out of the house... just these basic mechanical details, rather then heady thoughts.
But there was only one singular goal: Never drink, not ever, and under no circumstances. Does that sound to simple? "Keep it simple," is what they say, even if they might then go on and ignore that advice. It might not be easy, but it is simple, and very basic. No need to make a giant psychoanalytic case study out of it. Just don't drink, and it will come together. It's almost magical how that works.