I know I have a drinking problem. I am a fully functional alcoholic. I have a good job two grown children and have been married for 26 years.
Alcohol has controlled my life since I was in my young teens. I am now 46 years old and ready to stop, again. Hopefully for the last time.
Alcohol has caused many problems and added many fun memories to my life. But I have realized for along time that I am not in control anymore and I hate myself for it. Alcohol is now not enough to give me the rush I want so I’m starting gamble while drinking.
I’m going down a path that is going to leave me alone and broke. I need to regain control but I don’t know how.
I not a person who normally asks for help and I’m not a pity party person. I just know I’m not strong enough to do it on my own.
Alcohol stopped doing things for me and started doing things to me. As time went on it got worse and worse. Alcoholism is a progressive disease. It always gets worse, never better. Listen to the link I have attached. It’s good. It sheds light on the condition of alcoholism. AA is probably your best route, my friend. Your situation sounds similar to mine. Having everything, then seeing everything start to slip away. Get help from the people that have been through it.
By your own admission you are not fully functioning. You are an alcoholic. Period. Sorry. It's not the end of the world. Get yourself plugged into AA and get educated on addiction. Start with Alcohol Explained by William Porter also the website Sober Powered, she also has a podcast by the same name. It helped me alot. Best of luck, reach out anytime
Thanks for the link. It sounds to familiar.
Hi Adam,
None of us got sober because our lives were just too awesome when we were drinking. We all watched our lives, our happiness, our trustworthiness, our loved ones, and everything that we know and love slip away. Slowly at first but man once the ball got rolling….
I’m a good person. College. Loving childhood. Never really lacked for much in life. Not rich but comfortable. By the end I was getting fired, going to jail, losing my kids, and just broken. And I STILL THOUGHT I COULD DO IT MYSELF!!!
I’m with these guys. I skidded into AA with my 1 remaining kidney, a mountain of debt, a criminal case, 2 custody cases, a child support case, 3 CPS investigations, and enough guilt, shame and remorse to fill Texas twice.
6 hundred and 40ish days later and I’m a changed person. And all I did was read a book and follow instructions. I asked for help when I needed it. I accepted that my way didn’t work and that I needed a new guide in life because my compass was broken.
You hit rock bottom when you stop digging. You don’t have to keep going. But if you do keep going you’ll keep getting worse. Death, institution, or jail. Those wait for the drinking versions of all of us. Recovery is the choice I make every morning when I wake up, and what I’m grateful for every night before bed.
No one gets sober on a winning streak. Quit for today and try to keep it up tomorrow. I needed to stay in a treatment center myself. I’ve maintained my sobriety. I go to meetings regularly, have a sponsor and sponsor others. Remember to get sober for yourself first. Our loved ones can benefit from sober success but we must keep our primary purpose at heart.
Functional alcoholic is like saying little bit pregnant.
I didn't loose a thing, except my soul. I hated myself and all those false promises! No alcoholic likes to ask for help. I was doomed to a certain type of death and if there was a hello I was going there. Little did I know that I was in it.
My pride and ego needed to be leveled. I was no different than the next drunk in line.
21 years on March 17
It may be a long hard journey to do-but I hear it is one that makes you happier with life. I’m 2 months in and I’m loving how I feel. You can do it!
Its not about a pity party, it’s having the strength to ask for help and the wisdom to know you need it. You may be keeping up with your current responsibilities, but anyone who uses, or needs to use, substances is not “functioning”. It catches up with everyone eventually. I wish you the best in your recovery journey Adam. This is a step in the right direction.
Welcome Adam, you’re at the right place making the right decision. Asking for help is tough I get it. Getting the right kind of help is what’s needed. I was in a similar situation. I drank since I was a teenager. And tried to quit a few times. Had fun times. Had horrible times. Then my drinking wasn’t enough. I was introduced to Meth. Now my world had a new way to feel. Well this changed everything. I lost my marriage, my home, a few friends and I was left in that self pity party. Suicide was what I thought would be the only way out. I tried a few times and couldn’t do, by the grace of God, I pulled myself together. I checked in to an IOP hospital. I attended every group session. It still wasn’t enough. I went to residential treatment for 30 days after being sober for 47 days. That’s where the magic happened for me. I may have lost my old life but I gained a life I never thought possible. It wasn’t easy. It still has its moments but since I’m willing to do the work and learn new tools it’s paying off big time. I work the 12 steps of AA. I’m learning many’s different ways to broaden my spirituality. This includes going to church. Reading scripture and making new friends in church and in AA as well as here on Loosid. I have a sponsor. I have Sponsees who I get to take through the steps and watch them grow and learn new copping tools…
I had to change my thinking and perception on what I thought was about. I’m selfish. So I need to learn to be selfless.
Ask questions. Find a 12 step program that works for you. Do the work. It’s very simple. I tried to complicate it just like I did in my drinking career. It’s simple to be kind and loving. I’m here for you brother.
I believed I was functional but I am not! Once I accepted that it is when I surrendered!
I want to thank you all for your input. I am going to my first AA meeting in a few minutes.
Great job! Hope it goes well!
Keep going to meetings.90 meetings in 90 days.then to it for a year .meet lot of people.aa 