NerfThis

Hi all,

First of all, I'd like to share that I am now just over 6 months sober.
SR has been my one tool in keeping me sober this long, so I'd like to thank all of you for your continued support and sharing of stories (good and bad) which has helped me more than you know.

Second of all, I was just browsing the news on BBC and spotted this video uploaded today. It's only about 7 minutes long, but is an interesting watch about functioning alcoholics:

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-...ad-to-recovery

Alcoholism can often feel like an extremely lonely experience, but videos like this plus the people on this forum show you that you are not alone and should not feel ashamed about what you're dealing with.

FreeOwl

thanks for the share...

I loathe the term "functioning alcoholic"..... knowing how enabling it can be.

But - it's so common.... it's good to have examples like this to help others see...

Congrats on your sobriety

FreeOwl

Just finished the video.... a good one. Thanks again for sharing.

yinzer

Good video. Thanks for posting.

PalmerSage

Thanks! I hate the term "functioning alcoholic" too, I feel like it's both enabling and people who use it to describe themselves are often in denial.

Kid50

NerfThis

Thanks guys and no problem! I cannot stand the term either, but felt I had to write it seeing as it was the video's title haha. It is absolutely enabling.

JScatt

Thanks for posting the video!
It shows that being able to get stuff done and being drunk(functioning)is one of the last steps on the staircase to rock bottom.
For me it wasn't being able to have my cake and eat it too, in other words eventually my thinking of "I can be drunk and run my life" led to disaster. This was the progression of my alcoholic days:

I'll just drink on weekends
I'll just drink every other day
I'll just drink after work
I'll just have a sip before work (at 6am)
I'll just have a sip or two at lunch and break time...this is the "functioning" point
I'll just call in sick so I can drink all day
Dang, I got fired from work...well, guess I can drink all day and all week now..yipee!!
Ahh crap, guess I can't function and drink after all!

Fortunately I was able to quit before the last step..
Turning yellow and swelling up like a balloon laying in bed in agonizing pain

JustTony

None of the were functioning by the time they quit.

None of them mentioned the word ‘functioning’ either (did they?)