Thing is, AA works in part because it's anonymous.
The reality is - even in today's society there is a lot of judgment surrounding alcoholism and addiction, and unless someone has been in it, they can't and don't understand.
Not everyone has to know everything about you. It's actually to your benefit to learn to share some things with some people and not with others.
I didn't tell anyone except AA members and this forum. I don't go to AA anymore, so I don't discuss it anywhere but here. Some people use a therapist or clergyman, they are more discreet than your next door neighbor. It's a part of who I am, but not all of who I am.