Hi MyNewStart -- I can relate, my drinking was a lot like yours. I also was confused in AA because I heard stories that seemed so much worse than mine. But I stuck with it anyway, because I did feel better sober, and I wanted to stay sober. As time goes on, I focus less on the differences with other AA members and more on the similarities. It's clear to me now that I do have the same problem, and that it's a continuum .... if I were to keep drinking, I'm convinced I would start to experience the more serious problems I hear about in AA. I look on this as my chance to get out, before more painful and damaging things happen.