Welcome to Mods
and I second PP's congrats on a good start to moderating!
I'm glad you posted . I've found in my MWO time that the mods community isn't quite as active some of the other threads, but there are really good folks on these boards that do mods. So you may not get 20 responses, but it's a good group.
I think the approach of counting your mods/AF days in a month is a good strategy. Do you use the Drink Tracker? I've found that a helpful tool for keeping myself on track.
You mention that sometimes the AF days are hard. This is a good time to notice, and maybe even journal what about being AF is hard. Figuring out your triggers for drinking (lonely, sad, hungry, mad, resentful, bored,) helps manage mods (and life!) going forward. Is it the time of day, therefore the habit aspect? or people, or feelings that trigger the urge to drink?
I found that having good substitutes for drinking really made a difference. I'm not a beer drinker, but I now enjoy AF beer many an evening with my dinner, or even when out socially. It "hits the spot" both in terms of flavor and the "look and feel" of an adult beverage. Early on I experiemented with lots of MWO suggested alternative drinks . . . Cranberry and soda w/ lime was another that got me through a few social situations.
Anyway, kind of a long welcome, but hope to see you around here!
AFH