Untreated alcoholism. Wow. The source of my misery throughout my life, even before I picked up my first taste of alcohol, before I drank every Friday night, before Friday turned into Friday and Saturday, before my drinking progressed to non-stop drinking for over a 7 day period (hey, I, the post graduate honors student and professional lost everything and was fired from a job answering a telephone! okay, there's more to that story).
Alcohol was my solution. The effect was awesome, I wanted to keep that feeling.
Once alcohol was taken out of my day to day existence, life sucked. I needed to find a new solution. See, alcohol is not the problem for me. I was the problem. Living life was my problem (because of me). I found a new solution in the steps of AA. Others can find their solution in another form.
Nope, I didn't define untreated alcoholism, but I have found my new solution. Life is wonderful today, and no, I am not yet working, but I have everything (and then some) of what I need to live a happy life today. Alcohol is no longer my solution to life's problems.