EVERY alkie thinks that they are 'closet alkies' we all think that we can hide at least some of it from some people but the reality is we can't and don't.

It makes no difference what people do or don't do. It's about what are YOU gonna do to stay sober.

My profession is on my profile, it makes no difference to my status as an alcoholic! I have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body, and no one who helped me cared what my job was!

Translator - I speak 5 almost 6 - languages. People say I'm intelligent, I repost indignantly saying "I'm just a damn good parrot".

oh and as for the rest of my Curriculum Vitae, it consists of fresh starts, mental hospital, losing almost everything worth having, plagues of selfishness and defects, AA, meetings, steps, very real spiritual experience, continued growth and finally Hideous Chronic Closet Drunk who came out a few years ago.

We alcoholics are all the same regardless of social standing, employment, ethnicity, creed, etc.

I was a corporate paralegal for over 15 years. Then for 5 years, managed 14 therapy communities with their accounting and medical billing.

In between all of this, I participated in PTA and developed a cultural arts program at my daughters school.

I was drinking wine from my thermal cup while watching my daughter practice during her figure skating lessons after school. Nice huh?

Appearances mean nothing to a deceptive alcoholic, unless they just don't have anymore hope and/or give up.

ps. Most attorneys I worked for where drunks.... And I worked for MANY in 15 yrs.

Also, almost every woman on the PTA board was a pot head!

I actually had friends tell me I wasn't a drunk because I didn't look like one. When I was in rehab, I had 2 other patients ask me if I worked there - guess I didn't look messed up enough.. But boy, on the inside... I was dying.

Hi, I'm Julie and I'm an alcoholic.

LOL! Wontquit! "Gunthar" being "God!" LOL! Jeeeez

I am a manager at a grocery store. Shirt and tie all day, drink in my hand at night.

I am a closet alcoholic but probably not hiding it as well as I think. I tried to hide it from my wife for years but she knows. I'm sure my friends and family know too.

Nationally certified project manager of software applications (some of them worth millions) with graduate degree. Not bad for a drunk but a drunk nonetheless. I had the good fortune to be able to reschedule meetings whenever I was hungover too bad to run them.

i enjoyed lesser companions. that meant i was better than. hell, i even changed my underwear from time to time. i used to take a bus downtown--the car was confiscated at a crack motel--and sit under the overpass and, man, i was witty, smart, funny, tolerant, compassionate (they, of course, were not me). they enjoyed me too---until MY money ran out. time to go.....

I shower everyday, even when I don't need to.

oh believe me wontquit, you need to.

oh, i forgot to say i've been a flight attendant most of my working years. i sort ofremember having some good times but when the bad times hit i became almost immediately broken with no prospects as far as the eye could see. addiction is one great huge "groundhead day" and the sad part is we often find it not to be turned off except when the 1hour ophra show has an moment of clarity.. don't youthink we suffered enough for too many men and women.i choose humilty over humiliation. i choose hope.

I am a Stay Home Dad & Retired Alcoholic!!

I work in a level 1 crisis detox unit and I see financial advisor beancounter types all the time - with perhaps the exception of stockbrokers, lawyers, and computer programmers, accountants are pretty tough nuts to crack. . . lots of denial and lots of bigshotism. However after they lose everything and end up tore up from the floor up, they fit right in with the rest of the guys at the shelters and halfway houses. Alcoholism after all is the greatest leveller of all.

So welcome to "loser-ville" all you alkies!

(tongue & cheek)

I was in detox with a doctor and a prominent attorney. Alcoholism doesn't discriminate or give a rats ass about your social standing, that's for sure! I quickly realized that we're all in the same boat. (the Titanic that is) some make it to the life rafts, others don't.

Alcohol to the Alcoholic equals lost potential...period. I truely believe we are talented, gifted people.. who have turned to alcohol to cover insecurties and fears for lack of being able to deal with life on life's terms.

Here's the gift of being a recovered/recovering alcoholic: We get to discover and live a whole new life with peace. We can reach for and achieve our highest potentials. We can become the people we only hoped we could be. Our insides and outsides become the same. The delusions and illusions fade away.

You don't have to join the army to be all that you can be. You just have to recover.

I am a recovered alcoholic, my friends call me Ree (yes I have friends). I am employed as a justice court clerk. I have rebuilt my life with the tools/guidence that I have received in AA, from people like me and trusting a God of my own understanding that I don't understand... and a lot of damn hard work.

Hugs and Loves
Ree