Is it wrong to hide my alcoholism?
smileyologist and lord of bees
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: mourning smileys near you
Posts: 2,508
Is it wrong to hide my alcoholism?
There is a certain stigma attached to being labeled an alcoholic in society, but then again why should there be if it is a disease?
My family all know and I openly discuss my alcoholism with them. But the couple of only real friends I have (whom I rarely ever see in person) know I drink a lot, but don't think they suspect that I might be an alcoholic.
Should I just come out with it and tell everybody I know openly that I am?
On the internet, in person, etc?
My family all know and I openly discuss my alcoholism with them. But the couple of only real friends I have (whom I rarely ever see in person) know I drink a lot, but don't think they suspect that I might be an alcoholic.
Should I just come out with it and tell everybody I know openly that I am?
On the internet, in person, etc?
believer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,411
I think that's something you will find out..Your heart will tell you..Give it time maybe, and you'll know...
Of course not everybody is well informed or willing to live without prejudice..We all know people like to use things or stereotypical actions to feel better against others, sometimes..But it all depends on how you feel about it and deal with it..No matter what you do there will always be people who will challenge you, it's just about how you process that information...Like you say, it's a disease, and you should always remember you're a child of HP...
Of course not everybody is well informed or willing to live without prejudice..We all know people like to use things or stereotypical actions to feel better against others, sometimes..But it all depends on how you feel about it and deal with it..No matter what you do there will always be people who will challenge you, it's just about how you process that information...Like you say, it's a disease, and you should always remember you're a child of HP...
smileyologist and lord of bees
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: mourning smileys near you
Posts: 2,508
I think that's something you will find out..Your heart will tell you..Give it time maybe, and you'll know...
Of course not everybody is well informed or willing to live without prejudice..We all know people like to use things or stereotypical actions to feel better against others, sometimes..But it all depends on how you feel about it and deal with it..No matter what you do there will always be people who will challenge you, it's just about how you process that information...Like you say, it's a disease, and you should always remember you're a child of HP..
Of course not everybody is well informed or willing to live without prejudice..We all know people like to use things or stereotypical actions to feel better against others, sometimes..But it all depends on how you feel about it and deal with it..No matter what you do there will always be people who will challenge you, it's just about how you process that information...Like you say, it's a disease, and you should always remember you're a child of HP..
I mean nobody I've never met has any need to know my business, but I've posted drunk on other forums before and made an absolute clown of myself and I wasn't going to tell them that I was drunk when I done it and that I 'may have a problem'...
well, it's really not their business.
I don't really tell everyone......I just say I don't drink anymore and leave it at that. If they ask more I just tell them it's better this way. End of story.
I don't really tell everyone......I just say I don't drink anymore and leave it at that. If they ask more I just tell them it's better this way. End of story.
believer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,411
hey i am not an alcoholic, but i am in a deep, deep depression..Everybody in school keeps calling me lazy, if i tell them i am in this state it wouldn't help.some minds are not respectable of other people's problems....so what i do is, i know i am sick, but i am sick, there's no reason to be ashamed cuz i know i aint lazy or ignorant...Even if everybody jokes about where i am, i know i am struggling...and what i found out is this is the biggest battle of my life, if they're not gonna help, then i aint letting them in...
depression is more tough for me karim.
I've been struggling with it myself and it's
hard for me not to FEEL lazy and believe
what others think about me.
my meds have seemed to start working
so that's helped a lot.
I've been struggling with it myself and it's
hard for me not to FEEL lazy and believe
what others think about me.
my meds have seemed to start working
so that's helped a lot.
Hi,
I struggled with that question a lot too and it is a personal choice for you to make. For a long time, I felt like I was deceiving people by not telling them that I was ancoholic. And, since I was trying to be honest in my recovery that was bothersome.
I moved at the time I stopped drinking and I saw it as a chance to gain self-confidence and move forward in recovery. I met a couple of wonderful women who became friends and I chose to not share about my addiction. I realized that many people don't share the 'dark' parts of themselves, even with their friends. Addiction is part of who I am, it is not who I am. There are many things I am - a mother, wife, friend, music-lover and addict. I can be a fantastic and open friend without sharing about my addiction.
I struggled with that question a lot too and it is a personal choice for you to make. For a long time, I felt like I was deceiving people by not telling them that I was ancoholic. And, since I was trying to be honest in my recovery that was bothersome.
I moved at the time I stopped drinking and I saw it as a chance to gain self-confidence and move forward in recovery. I met a couple of wonderful women who became friends and I chose to not share about my addiction. I realized that many people don't share the 'dark' parts of themselves, even with their friends. Addiction is part of who I am, it is not who I am. There are many things I am - a mother, wife, friend, music-lover and addict. I can be a fantastic and open friend without sharing about my addiction.
Old & Sober Member of AA
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey
Posts: 5,174
Discretion is the better part of valor!
There is a certain stigma attached to being labeled an alcoholic in society, but then again why should there be if it is a disease?
My family all know and I openly discuss my alcoholism with them. But the couple of only real friends I have (whom I rarely ever see in person) know I drink a lot, but don't think they suspect that I might be an alcoholic.
Should I just come out with it and tell everybody I know openly that I am?
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
I don't tell everybody I am a diabetic.
If I can help someone deal with their diabetes
I discuss my method for living healthy with it,
Same thing with my alcoholism.
Blessings
If I can help someone deal with their diabetes
I discuss my method for living healthy with it,
Same thing with my alcoholism.
Blessings
I believe sharing your history of alcoholism should only be done on a "need to know" basis. My health care providers need to know; nobody else really does. Of course my famliy and AA group know, but that's OK! GH
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: MA.
Posts: 1,719
My family all know and I openly discuss my alcoholism with them. But the couple of only real friends I have (whom I rarely ever see in person) know I drink a lot, but don't think they suspect that I might be an alcoholic.
Should I just come out with it and tell everybody I know openly that I am?
On the internet, in person, etc?
Should I just come out with it and tell everybody I know openly that I am?
On the internet, in person, etc?
Hi RK,
You would be surprised on how many people KNOW you have a problem with alcohol...The decision is yours whether to tell your friends...I found it to be a comfort because they continue to support me today...
I wouldn't be able to broadcast it.I've admitted to a couple of friends that i have a problem with drink,but these lads are people i've known for years and drunk with on several occasions.I don't think it was anything they didn't know.People i know fairly well know i like a drink and others don't know at all.My wife thinks i drink too much but doesn't bring it up much.Maybe in the future i might be more open about it,but at the moment it's not something i would want to go into with most people.
smileyologist and lord of bees
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: mourning smileys near you
Posts: 2,508
I wouldn't be able to broadcast it.I've admitted to a couple of friends that i have a problem with drink,but these lads are people i've known for years and drunk with on several occasions.I don't think it was anything they didn't know.People i know fairly well know i like a drink and others don't know at all.My wife thinks i drink too much but doesn't bring it up much.Maybe in the future i might be more open about it,but at the moment it's not something i would want to go into with most people.
The drinking guidelines for how many units a person should drink per week are ridiculed by almost every person I know - many drink 2 to 3 times more than that, I probably drank 10-15 times that!!!
Old & Sober Member of AA
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nursing Home in Brick, New Jersey
Posts: 5,174
I lived most of my life in and around Newark, N. J., and got sober there. Went to many, many AA meetings...no one ever seemed surprised that the majority of the members were of Irish, Scottish, English background, although American born. On the other hand, you very rarely saw those of Jewish or Oriental heritage. Could very well have something to say in support of the theory of genetics re alcoholism?
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