Ethos23

I was suprised how many people knew I was drinking. I thought nobody would know because I was always drinking vodka, which I thought (foolishly) was odorless (not to mention I carried myself different when drunk). Anyone else have similar experiences?

currygod

hmm I'm not sure. Nobody ever mentioned anything to me and I've never really told anyone about my problem I just say 'I decided I'm not gunna drink anymore, its really bad for you'.

That being said I'm pretty sure people must have noticed they were prolly just too polite/worried about my reaction to mention anything...

sailorjohn

I was in a relationship with an alcoholic/addict for over 4 years, I don't know if she ever believed me or not-I told her-but I could tell when she'd been drinking just by the difference in her voice, she wouldn't have to be heavily intoxicated for it to be noticeable.

Jabbadabutt

I never got it when people said that they drank vodka because it doesn't smell.....IT SURE DOES SMELL !!!! -- I think there are other liquors with stronger odors but vodka still does pretty bad. I often thought I was fooling people.....I was only fooling myself.

Supercrew

I never fooled my wife, but I thought I fooled alot of people alot of the time, until someone made a comment to me that they were happy to see I wasn't carrying my cup with me everywhere I went.

He is an acquaintence, and if he noticed (although he was letting me know how good I looked as well), I am sure alot more people had a clue than I thought did.

yeahgr8

Everyone knew i was drinking...work put up with it because i am good at my job and quite specialised, partners put up with it because they were as sick as me, friends put up with it because they were as immature and irresponsible as me to varying levels etc...and family obviously knew!

iliveforyou

When I was drinking, I was completely isolated occasionally being around my husband...I drank real heavily along with valium. He claims that he never knew...but I think it was more the fact that he didn't want to see it so he was in complete denial. My mom always knew when I spoke with her on the phone, who was out of state...but other than that, I was never around people.

Also never understood the vodka/odorless thing. It sure as $hit has a smell lol everytime I walk past someone, I can tell what kind of liquor or other alcohol they had drank, including vodka.

Ethos23

I agree. Vodka does have a smell. I guess it is just one of the many lies I told myself to reassure myself that I wouldn't get caught.

Sugah

Everybody.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

chris12

Everyone must have noticed when I was drinking socially. The thing is that it depends where you live and how socially acceptable it is. Until recently I've been living in Australia and if you don't drink you stand out!

CardiffRider

I have a feeling the wife knew. Whether or not she knew I was swigging off a hidden vodka bottle is another thing. I am kinda OCD about gargling with mouth wash so after a swig I would gargle. She never let on per se but in retrospect I think she knew.

So much has become aware to me since I stopped drinking. Kinda scary really.

FBL

Most everybody knew sometimes, but I knew ALL the time, and that's what sucked!

Bombshell

I shudder to think how many people must've noticed when I was drinking. Two bottles of wine most nights - there's no way I didn't smell of booze at work the next day. And the wrinkled clothes, puffy face and red eyes must've been giveaways too...

But thinking about it too much makes me feel sad and ashamed, and those feelings make me want to reach for the bottle again so's I feel all brazen and don't-careish (for a while), so I just don't think about that any more. I just thank God I've stopped living like that now

RecoveringChris

To be blunt: Everyone.

Family, friends, co-workers. There were some people that I didn't want to know, but they did, and there were some of whom I didn't care if they did or not. I listen to stories of people at work where they go and get tanked all the time so they don't mind me knowing if they drink.

least

My kids knew... and hated it.

Ethos23

Don't ever feel sad and ashamed. Our greatest victories come from our greatest defeats. You have moved past living like this and that is a MAJOR accomplishment. Congratulations, you are an inspiration to me!!!!

bananagrrrl

Everyone knew I was a drunk as well.

Reeking of alcohol all the time, I could not smell it on myself. My husband said if he lit a match I would catch on fire. I was like

I am incredibly grateful to be sober and working on my recovery today.

KellyToronto

Yes, it's amazing how, when you are an ACTIVE alcoholic, you go through life in a daze, and at work you are wondering if anyone suspects that you were self-medicating the night before.

I heard it takes 6 to 8 months for the fog to life - I hope it isn't that long.

Kelly

UniqueNewYork

It wasn't so much how many people knew I was drinking that bothered me, it was how many people saw me drinking during a blackout which was a frequent event.

chanel1125

Mostly everyone knew I was drinking. Everyone thought I was drinking even if I hadn't regardless of anything.

I too was one of those fools who thought vodka didn't smell... but oh it does.