Hi, and congratulations...you should be and I am sure you are proud of yourself.
I still haven't kicked the habit, but I have been able to do something I thought I could never ever do...drink in moderation. And i have been doing so now for 5 months. I used to drink a load of hard liquor, wine or 10% beer to get that numbing, relaxing sensation.
Now, I drink only 4.5 or 5% beer, and never more than 2 or 3 per night. I know, I still have a drinking problem and am still an alcoholic, but like what you share below, I now feel disgusted at the thought when I think back to when I used to get loaded.
It's really a weird experience for me. But. I'll be totally honest, and I am not a religious person. I do believe in God and enjoy a close daily relationship with Him (our Heavenly Father), which sounds a bit contrary to my last statement. When I think of the word religious, as many others may, I think of someone who regularly attends church etc. Well, for about 25 years now, I left all mainstream church systems and simply have this one-on-one relationship, where I don't need to say special prayers, or say stuff a certain way, or be in a specific place etc. I am simply keenly aware of His presence and converse with Him like I would a very good friend or someone I revere greatly and for whom I have the utmost respect and gratitude. All this to say, that I know-that-I-know that it is entirely His grace and His doing. i could never in a million years pull myself up by my own bootstraps, but He indeed pulled me up. Today, i was reminded at my doctor's office as the radio was playing of the word "grace". That is exactly what this "not having desire for alcohol" really is...His grace. And to respond to your comment at the end of your 2nd paragraph below "hopefully you can make sense of all this", I say this: "Yes, I can most assuredly make sense of all this, because I've been there, exactly where you've been. Keep up the great work and attitude. If ever you feel that maybe the urges are getting way out of hand, then do what I do, just have a one-on-one talk with our Heavenly Father, however, whenever and wherever you wish. He already knows what's up. You're simply acknowledging it with Him and asking him for "grace" to get over this bad urge. Now, I'll humbly borrow your phrase, if you would allow me to, "hopefully you can make sense of all this."