2. Thinking about being sober for an entire month, two months, etc. is not the path prescribed by AA or any long-term sober alcoholic I know. What they say is one day at a time. In fact I just got back from a meeting in which that was the main topic of discussion. A number of people said they did not think that way, or looked right past it, when they came into the program, and that it was a breakthrough when they finally grokked it. If you keep doing the day at a time (or hour, or 5 minutes) eventually they add up to bigger numbers. But you have to focus on the little numbers. Or so I keep hearing.

That's why I don't care much for AA (and some of your stories have confirmed it). Historically, the British have an interesting way of deaing with issues like this -sometimes it's better to just slap the ever-loving bejeezus out of someone to get their attention.

But I'll say this - I'm glad to hear you've made it 5 days. Now make it 10.