Originally Posted by CaseyW

I enjoyed the answers I got to my question yesterday about your usernames/avatars, so thought I'd ask another question today: Did you grow up around alcohol or drinkers? How did that affect you as a child?

Originally Posted by Bobbieka

My parents did not and still do not drink. Strict Pentecostal. My friend's parents drank a lot though, and it seemed so cool. We started stealing their alcohol around 14. She is still a heavy drinker and the two of us don't talk right now. I was still sneaking drinks with her 6 months ago! My brothers do not drink at all and my sister drinks very rarely. So my parents were on to something - I just missed it.

Originally Posted by CaseyW

I come from a long line of alcoholics on both sides of my family. My dad has been sober since 1983. My mom's dad was sober for over 30 years when he died in 2014. Almost all of my aunts and uncles could be described as alcoholics and/or addicts. My mom abused prescription pills from my early teenage years until the day she passed away. My dad met my absolutely wonderful step-mom at an AA group in 1990. (She's not an alcoholic but was running the Alateen program there for children of alcoholics as she grew up in a house filled with recovery as well.) But all that being said, I really don't remember alcohol being around at all as a child. My dad sobered up when I was eight. He's never really told me any of his drinking war stories, just the bare outline that it was bad and he's glad he sobered up. But I don't remember him drinking at all. There are some childhood photos of me sitting on his lap while he has a can of Coors in his hand. Lots of memories of the wreckage that my mom's addiction and mental issues caused because most of them happened when I was 13-15 years old. She never drank--in fact she hated alcohol because of her memories of her own dad's drinking during her childhood--but she was a very smart woman who spent her life working in pharmacies and doctor's offices so she knew how to con the system into getting her whatever prescriptions she wanted. I spent a lot of time around AA clubhouses as a child because of my dad and granddad so have heard all the recovery phrases and cliches for almost my whole life. Sometimes I thought every single item in our house had been decorated with the phrase "one day at a time" or the serenity prayer. I actually didn't take my first drink myself until I was 24 years old because I had always heard that alcoholism is genetic and I didn't want to go down that road. But once I did finally start drinking, I would say I was drinking alcoholically within six months if not sooner. It was an instant feeling of "this is what I've been missing my whole life." I've known I needed to stop drinking since summer 2002. I would guess that growing up around so many recovering alcoholics made me a little more aware of my situation than normal but it also may have made sobering up a little harder as I've found I just can't fully commit to the program of AA and that's how most of my relatives sobered up.

Originally Posted by Renew12

to new members of our class. Anyone back to day one, glad your here. We only have today. Kiki, I relate to your list. It captures the different categories of powerlessness, unmanageability in our lives. I have similar lists. How alcohol affected my health, (i.e. physical, mental, spiritual), my relationships, my finances, legal, etc. It's helpful to get it on paper. My alcoholism turned to drinking at home alone later. It's progressive. I ended up drinking even more, until the day I had reverse tolerance. It always gets worse imo. I'm so happy your making healthier decisions, recognizing your triggers, using tools to overcome. You have a good plan for when that old AV is having a tantrum Casey, Thank you so much for all your support to everyone! I for one need to hear the same messages over & over. My brain needs daily reinforcement. Everyone here you . Please check in. Casey & others are correct, we are stronger together. I'm off to try & find Dee's links on plans & tips. Unless, one of you young whippersnappers can find them first. They are excellent.

Originally Posted by CaseyW

You tell it, KiKi! Alcohol is poison for us. Period.

Originally Posted by KiKi0615

Wow, that's a very interesting story about your family Casey. Since AA worked so well for your family, do you think you might dive in at some point? I bet you could really help a lot of people! :-)

Originally Posted by samantha14

Hi everyone, Today was a brutal day for me. I got to work at 4:45am and I am just leaving now. I am tired and cranky and I want a drink. Work is a trigger for me (but how do you avoid it) - it feels like everyone comes to me with their problems and issues and it's exhausting. Every day I have at least one person in my office crying. Today it was two. Also as a side note - my boss sent out an "end of first quarter" party invite for tomorrow afternoon - drinks (of course) and appetizers. Whenever anyone declines you can just tell she disapproves. Feels like a tough and stressful day all around. I will catch up on all I missed later

Originally Posted by CaseyW

Sorry it was a rough day, samantha14. Drinking will only make it worse, of course. I'd turn down the party. Put your recovery first. Doesn't sound like slight disapproval from your boss will put your job in any immediate jeopardy. Leave the drinking party to the drinkers. You're not one of them anymore.

Originally Posted by samantha14

Thanks Casey. I'm not planning on going tomorrow. It would only lead to disaster. Thanks for the support.