hopeful999

So... truth be known, there is alcoholism in my family. My maternal grandfather was an alcoholic. Irish, catholic, in America w/ 7 kids. Divorced from family, quit drinking for many years, as long as I knew him, we loved him at his death. But my Mom and her sibs probably have different memories of him.

Other side: English, French, Irish.... somehow the kids ended w/ drinking problems (my Dad and his brother). They both got prostrate cancer, and in the end it killed my uncle (not alcohol), my Dad is still alive and living w/ prostate cancer, in a band, and *very* happy.

Though..... I did have lots of weird experiences w/ my Dad as a substance abuser. He used to drink and pass out at family events. One night, he had 4 glasses of Merlot, and started crying. I was confused, because I was very lucid that night. He said, "Okay, I am an alcoholic." And he started crying. I was weirded out and confused. My Mom then told me was a "substance abuser." W/ valium. alcohol, etc. From that day forward, I have never seen him drink. We are an odd bunch.

Thanks for listening.

SelfSeeking

One of the most horrifying (at the time) things about reaching my bottom was realizing that as much as I hated the behavior of my alcoholic family members, I was just like them, or getting there.

smynthia

My maternal GM died of alcoholism. My sister battled the disease her whole life, (now 3 years AF) I didn't drink the same way that she did, so I often told myself her drinking problem was worse.

Now I know it's the same as mine, just manifested in a different way.

marty888

I grew up in what in what I like to call CIA, Catholic Irish Alcoholics. Promised myself it would never get me, but it did !!!!! Both my brothers are the same.

Taking5

I have relatives on both sides of the family with alcoholism. One uncle passed away several years ago with 30+ years of sobriety thanks to AA.