When I first admitted I was an alcoholic, I guess ashamed was how I felt. I didn't realise that by admitting it, my life would be as good as it is today :)

By doing amends, I have admitted to many that I am an alcoholic. The great thing, not one single person has laughed, all have said to me that they are glad I sorted myself out and that it is good to have the courage to be able to do that.

As for 'choosing to drink', I do not have to worry today. As the Big Book promises me 'We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutralitysafe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed'. It then goes on to say 'so long as we stay in fit spiritual condition'.

That is what the 12 step program does for me today.

(top of page 85 if you want to look it up HTL).

Great going Anna. I think shame is a ploy of our disease to beckon us back. If we are ashamed of ourselves for being an alcoholic, then how are we ever going to face it head on?


I do not advertise my alcoholism, but I do not deny it and will offer my story to anyone who it may provide help to. Secrets are deadly in my situation, and I could give a rat's ass if someone dismisses me for my challenges. I would rather they do from the get go-so I can move on and find cool folks to hang with.

I do not like people gossiping about me, which is how it is in my extended family (not so much anymore)...It tends to piss me off. But then again it is better than no one talking about me at all, right? :) Like you say, the shame no longer is there if we are in recovery.

You have courage, I am proud of you.

Hi Anna

And thanks for sharing this with us.

I think shame was one of my middle names .Lionel shame ,guilt and remorse that was me. But no longer by admitting/accepting I was alcoholic I got rid of the last three now it's just Lionel and for a complicated person life is a lot more simpler.

In the beginning I don't think I was happy being alcoholic but I was happy to find out I was one ,it explained so much I never had answers for. Today I don't even mind being alcoholic because Alcoholic sounds a lot better then some of the other things I was called.

I also don't advertised I am alcoholic today unless it is to help some one or I am ask.I have these guidlines short version.

Tradition 11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

I remember one time in early recovery a person I will call Greg was giving me a lift to a meeting. Greg was a business man and was always dressed in suits and ties. We decided to stop at the local Fish & Chips shop and grab something to eat before the meeting.

This shop was opposite the local pub I used to drink at and I visited this shop a lot when I was drinking/drunk. Well what happened

This particular evening Greg and I stopped the shop was full with people and when it was our turn to order the little Greek lady who ran the shop with her husband said what's wrong your not drunk tonight

And I said no I can't drink I am an alcoholic well Greg took 3 feet back as though it was the end of the world. It was at that point I realised there may be a time and place to let people know. But I was so excited early in recovery it was as though I had found the missing link..

Sober is better also for me. 76 days is great keep it up.

A day at a time anything is possible if I don't drink.

God Bless...

Lionel

Heck, I advertised my alcoholism all over the place-- places like police stations, courtrooms, etc. It was only after I sobered off that it even occurred to me that maybe I should start being self-conscious about it.

Yep -
Don't have it stamped on my forehead, but ain't ashamed of it. The knowledge that I am an alcoholic has enabled others to freely ask for help. Not a bad thing...
Thanx,
Dennis

I don't think I was ever ashamed of being an alcoholic. I was more ashamed of not doing anything about it for so long.

Lots of people I work with know and it doesn't bother me. I'm pretty open about it. Damn... they saw what I looked like when I came in each day. Big, big difference these days! lol

WTG on 76 days, my friend! Love you!

I remember , I don't know maybe when i was around 30 days sober and i ran in to one of my co- worker"s at a meeting... the next day he told everyone i was there also....I had a real sense of feeling a little exposed to my new found secret...that I drank Alcoholically and others new I had a drinking problem...my sense of exposure to others opinion of me was explained somewhat at a meeting..."what others think about me is None of my Business".that was enough to help ...how I felt at the time...And as change... can be focused on My perception ....Time and addressing my mis-perceptions thru Step- work, therapy and just everyday life has ...helped in my sense of exposure or ....feeling crappy about the life I had been handed Lol!!! or helped to create....Did not intend to pontificate....on this topic but:)that's my story and i'm sticking to it...until it changes.
Billy

When we're ashamed of something, we run away and hide from it. When I was ashamed of who I was, out would come the lies, and on would go the mask. Acceptance of myself is what removed the shame, forgiveness the guilt.

Yes, the concept of use being ashamed of being an admitted alcoholic is a strange thing. I had been an "out there" drinker - out in pubs, parties, weddings I made a mess of, work functions (Aarrgghh -now there's some shame!! lol), BBQ's, sporting events, any possible thing you could name. I peed myself in public many times, had relations with whomever was available, drunk drove bla bla bla. And the majority of my drinking was in blackout, so there are many, many things I did that I'll never know about and of course they were even more extreme than those I just listed.

But when I got sober, initially I was fearful that people would see me going into a hall or building that had the AA sign out front. Goodness they might know I'm an alcoholic!! Bloody hell, I think most of the Southern Hemisphere knew I was an alcoholic!! lol

But it's all part of the process of learning I am an alcoholic and then accepting I am an alcoholic and do the drill I need to do to be a sober alcoholic.

Way to Go!!!!!! I am so very proud of you - woooo hoooo!

My problem was of public record
Never had to tell anybody, instead peeps would run for the hills.!!!!
These days I can LOL.

another great post, congrats on soberity time, it really is refreshing to read ur posts.. thanks for being here u truly inspire me and give me hope.. thanks. :)

"we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it"

Amazing how it works when I work it!!!

Great posts!