Originally Posted by
brach123 
how do i know if i'm an alcolohic what does it mean?
If, when you honestly want to, you find you can't stop entirely or if when you drink you have little or no control over the amount you take, you could be alcoholic. It is about control and choice.
I reached a point where I had lost control and lost the power of choice. I joined AA took the steps and recovered. We take the steps to recover not the other way around.
How long do you have to get started on the steps? As long as you can stay sober on your own power, which for me was about 3 weeks max.