Well I told a friend today that I am alcoholic. That's the first time I've done that F2F with a friend. she was really cool and understanding about the whole thing.
I explained everything to her about AA and the steps and alcoholism and she was great. She related the powerlessness to how she felt about cigarettes.
She also said some of what I said sounded scary to her cause she could see herself in it. I told her if she ever wanted to know more I could get a big book for her to read.
So just wanted to share. I've really told virtually no-one except the priest about my alcoholism (who isn't in the program or on this forum). It was actually really good to say the words out loud. Also, I think it helps with accountability - I know now that when I go round to this friend's house for dinner she won't offer me wine.
I still havent told me parents - they are coming up in a week - maybe I'll be able to tell them then. One day and one step at a time.
Idgie.
Hi Idgie...it can be scary to tell our "secret" but my experience has been that not to many people were surprised, most were very supportive, and as I was told in AA...we are only as sick as our secrets....There was also a sense of relief when I let it out....
It gets easier...as we tell...and I started out telling "safe" people first...friends and family who I kinda knew would be supportive...and they were...Not everyone was...but they were my drinking "friends"...at first they were happy for me and then after a month...they thought I learned to "control" my drinking and could drink again...I tried to explain that AA is about sobriety...recovery...not drinking one day at a time...What I learned from that experience is that they really were not true friends...and that was okay...they went their way...I went mine...
Thanks for sharing...Love Gina
It gets easier...as we tell...and I started out telling "safe" people first...friends and family who I kinda knew would be supportive...and they were...Not everyone was...but they were my drinking "friends"...at first they were happy for me and then after a month...they thought I learned to "control" my drinking and could drink again...I tried to explain that AA is about sobriety...recovery...not drinking one day at a time...What I learned from that experience is that they really were not true friends...and that was okay...they went their way...I went mine...
Thanks for sharing...Love Gina
Idg,
What a relief huh? My Sponsor tells me when I am honest about who I am an "alcoholic", I'm nailing one more nail in that addiction coffin of mine so to speak...I was so afraid for my work to find out for the 20 years I was out, but who was it that I called first for help, my company's employee assistance program. Now I don't go shouting it from the rooftops, but I kinda did in early sobriety, cause I was just so happy I found a new way to live! Now, I only let people know when necessary and it really isn't that big of deal anymore. You are doing terrific! I was on the elevator at work and I have a keychain with an NA newcomer tag on it, plus my three year sobriety chip...I saw a girl looking kinda quizically at my keys and then me, then my keys...I was wondering what she was doing because I forget those tags are on my keys...I just laughed in my car...I could'nt figure out what she was doing! I thought my zipper was down or something!
What a relief huh? My Sponsor tells me when I am honest about who I am an "alcoholic", I'm nailing one more nail in that addiction coffin of mine so to speak...I was so afraid for my work to find out for the 20 years I was out, but who was it that I called first for help, my company's employee assistance program. Now I don't go shouting it from the rooftops, but I kinda did in early sobriety, cause I was just so happy I found a new way to live! Now, I only let people know when necessary and it really isn't that big of deal anymore. You are doing terrific! I was on the elevator at work and I have a keychain with an NA newcomer tag on it, plus my three year sobriety chip...I saw a girl looking kinda quizically at my keys and then me, then my keys...I was wondering what she was doing because I forget those tags are on my keys...I just laughed in my car...I could'nt figure out what she was doing! I thought my zipper was down or something!
Hi there Idg I know how scary it can be revealing yourself. I was once told that when it came to my alcoholism the old saying "those that matter don't mind and those that mind don't matter." For the most part almost everyone in direct contact with me knows about my alcoholism, opting instead for a select few to keep this quite. For example in the workplace certainly discretion is advised. There are also those who simply don't understand so it is not worth investing such information with them. Nevertheless, I am proud that you have dared to reveal yourself with the right person/s and by revealing this small part opens the door to reveal more of the real you. This I believe is why I see the program as not only offering a healing effect but also the freedom to be me warts and all. No more masks that i spent many years putting up and that were a full time job keeping up with. god bless
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