Can I just say...
I'm crying right now because I feel like I found people who understand me. I get strength from this Web site, and now that I've put my own problem out there, I already feel better. I was ashamed to post, but now I'm so glad I did.
I've read the detox sticky/forums several times. Maybe I can read it again now with new perspective.
My writing/career has not been affected in terms of my clients. Well, that's not entirely true - my freelance went from feast to famine due to the declining print industry. I've secured new clients, but lost my confidence somewhere along the way! I realize that if I don't get my act together, I could lose these clients. I've been fortunate so far - they're all thrilled with my work (more than 4,000 articles to my name in the last nine years!). But I realize it only takes one drunken, slurry-voiced interview, or a missed deadline, to change the game.