While drinking there is more of a stigma or more accurately societal pressure to clean up my act. I was hesitant to go to AA or stop drinking by other methods not so much from social stigma, but to varying degrees of the internal fear of totally giving up something I loved (alcohol). After clearing up I realized that nowadays the societal stigma of being a recovered drunk is not that great.

The societal stigma of mental illness is far greater. Even if one is stable, society looks at us as potential mass murderers or weak suicide candidates.

I personally don't care about any of that stuff! If people want to judge, let them judge. It won't affect the way I feel about myself, which is the most important thing!

I was self conscious at first as well. AA allowed me to feel less alone. It seems now that so many public figures have come out about there addictions or problems with alcohol and / or drugs, that there is less stigma now. In fact, I feel like now when I go to a party and order fizzy water and lime, that others look at me more positively. People who know how much I used to drink know without asking that I stopped for a reason. If they ask I am truthful. This last weekend I went for an annual golf outing with 15 men, seemingly 15 drunks. Several asked why I was not drinking. I said I stopped and that simply I was not a good drinker anymore. Drinking cost me a DUI, almost a marriage, and almost my life. Being that frank gave them not much room to be judgemental, as they talked to me sipping their drink and slurring their words. :)

The more I got into the 12 steps, the more I stopped worrying about what others thought about me.

I understand what you are saying because I use to feel that way and still do at times but it's because I go to AA meetings when my drug of choice are narcotics. So I usually introduce myself as an alcoholic and drug addict, because I have more then one addiction. I am a very sick man :)

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. So in summery, try not to let it bother. One thing I noticed is that some people will introduce themselse as " a greatful recovering alcoholic" which I think sounds better and makes us feel a little better also.

God Bless!

As far as the stigma, "it is what it is'"
I belong to a advocacy group in my area that helped fight and get it passed a bill back in 2010 that makes the ins company's recognize addictions the same way the would someone having a heart attack.
Still a long way to go but like anything else it has to start somewhere.

Personally I don't care what others think all I know I was given a gift to live life like I never knew was possible. I got mine through the 12 step program but of course there are other ways.

Zach the "stigma on mental health" which you mentioned is in the same category of any other addiction some don't like being put in that category but it is.

As I heal I am finding that I no longer feel shame about this. The program that I am following tends to heal these feelings along with healing the body and brain.

As we learn more about addiction thru science I believe that society will begin to understand it better and there will be less of a stigma.

I was so afraid to admit that I wasnt perfect. I thought I had to be in order to be accepted; to be loved. I thought I had to have full acceptance in order to make a living through to have relationships. What I realize now is that my reactions to so much of life were based on things I learned as an abused child, that allowed me to survive that abuse. They served me well then, in that i lived, but they stunted my growth as I became an adult.
So now I go to AA, I work the program and the principals into my life and I ask for help. I no longer feel ashamed to say Im' alcoholic, or to ask for help.

I don't feel any stigma with my alcoholism and abstinence. No one I know thinks I am weak or without morals because I can't handle drinking and am sober, nor do I feel that way about myself.

I do not go to AA, but it has nothing to do with feeling stigmatized. I find the meetings depressing and the 12 steps in conflict with my beliefs. I'm glad it helps others though.

Jersy, its well known you think meetings are depressing some are but not the norm, just curious how many did attend , to make that judgment? .anyway.. many of us that still go to meetings and help others

What a concept helping others the way some of us was helped to find a better way of life. So if sitting though a meeting or 2 that's depressing most would agree its well worth are time.

gjm -- to answer your question. I don't know how many meetings I've been to -- not many. I tried some when I first got sober. I went again when I hit a year -- I wanted to make sure that I was setting myself up for long term success. I tried a couple of different groups. I stopped when I was given advice that meetings without doing the steps would not help me stay sober. Quite a relief since I had no intention of following the program. Since then I've gone been to a couple of meetings -- one with a friend, one to check it out again.

Obviously, since going to meetings did not help me, I do not see myself going to meetings as a way to help others. :-)

I too stopped going to AA meetings many years ago. Rather than get into the why's it is better for me to try my best not to engage in debate. I learned that here. The only reason I share my not going to meetings is to let people know that it's O.K not to attend, and they can be just as successful in maintaining sobriety if they choose a different path...

Make friends in AA or with other recovering alcoholics who cares what judgmental a-s h---s think of you. Most people who would judge us are worse than us in other ways.

I am newly sober and this is my first post here, actually my first blog post anywhere! Anyway, I have been lurking here and now am ready to step in with both feet (and my heart). I think that Stigma feeds the beast called Shame, and Shame is what got me into my addiction to alcohol and got me stuck there. AA has helped me see that one can get free, anonymous, consistent and truth information from others in the same boat. For me, it doesn't matter if I pray to a God, a tree, or my cat for support. Once I settled with that in AA, it got ALOT easier. I let go of the Shame, which helped me put down the drink that day. Then the next day. And today. Anyway I guess we all have two wolves inside us, a kind one and a wounded, angry one. Which grows stronger? The wolf we feed. So tell Stigma to take a hike and feed your healthy wolf. Hope I can keep it up and I am so glad to be here - - - thank you for this web site!

Glad to see you here Faith. All my best in your new found sobriety.

Thanks to all who responded. Food for thought.