mariechi

Hey all,

Since the day I heard myself say "I am an alcoholic," many, much, mucho has happened. All of it good, really. I've had the luxury of doing a lot of soul searching, learning - much of it here at SR. The time is fast coming when I have to take my recovery out into the everyday, work-a-day world and be....

I almost said a functional alcoholic. No, that's what I was.

I didn't know what alcoholism was while I was in full swing. The people in my life don't know what it is, and I don't want to be a person telling everybody about my affliction. That gets OLD. It also detracts from what I want their experience of me to be.

So while I'm not planning on wearing it on a T-shirt, I want to get it straight in my own mind.

I always thought of an alcoholic as a person who's drunk all the time.
An alcoholic is a person who cannot handle alcohol. Nothing wrong with not being able to handle alcohol as long as you don't ingest any. I can't eat watermelon either.

But can't just be an alcoholic. You need a modifier.

Recovering alcoholic? If you can't recover from alcoholism the language doesn't work for me. I can't recover the person who could enjoy an occasional drink.

Non-drinking alcoholic? Better.

I found the one that works for me: alcohol-free alcoholic.

This is probably a silly thread, but maybe if anybody else is having a little bit of an identity - well, not crises, you know -

I'm off to spend the weekend with my folks. I'll check back and see if any ideas occurred.

Be well!

CarolD

Hmm...
here is one that used to confuse and peeve me
and now I often say it too.......

I'm Carol, a graeful alcoholic..

Astro

My name is Scott, I'm an alcoholic, my life was unmanageable, and I do have the power to choose whether to drink or not.

24hrsAday

mariechi: welcome.. i don't think this is a silly thread! nothing wrong with it at all.. my name is john and i am a grateful recovering alcoholic!