Originally Posted by
CarolD 
I almost lost my sanity with years of
"I'm a functioning alcoholic"
That "functioning alcoholic" deception almost cost me my sanity and life too, Carol. I first heard the term years ago in a court ordered treatment program. Something must have clicked in my brain "Oh, great. I don't have to quit drinking - I'll just be aspire to be a functioning alcoholic". Says a lot about the insanity of our disease that that was the only thing I got out of that program.
It was like a free pass to continue drinking. I told myself that If I maintained a certain level of control, kept employed and didn't get arrested again - I didn't have to deal with my drinking. In my twisted thinking, as long as I was functioning then it was ok to drink like an alcoholic.
Of course, over the years I continuely lowered the bar on my definition of what "functioning" meant.