I'm 3 months sober. I have been doing a lot of soul searching and attend AA meetings often. Firstly I thought my problem at 47 had only been the last couple of years but in the last few weeks I have come to the realization that I have always had a dysfunctional relationship with alcohol. Are we born an alcoholic, don't know but I do know that when I took my first drink in my early teens I just wanted to get hammered. At times I gave it up but it still dominated my mind (at one point for 2 years sober) and all I could think about was drinking. So I just answered my own question I reckon we are born an alcoholic.