Ok, gotta say this. I love the word alcoholic and I'm proud every time I add "recovering" to the front of it. I was a alcoholic for 25 years before I became a recovering one. it's as much of me as is my name is. Although i don't walk around with a billboard that says "recovering alcoholic" on it, I don't have a problem at all with telling someone that - and I for sure tell my doc. That's just me of course.