For me it is a disease. My first sponsor in AA was a retired physician and my first sponsee was a practicing physician. We spent much time discussing the disease concept. My sponsee had a hard time grasping it because he said "I'm not cured of cancer if I say 'Hi, my name is John and I have cancer'" so why should saying "Hi, I'm John and I'm an alcoholic" cure me of alcoholism the disease?

My wife is a breast cancer survivor and she has to do a lot to keep her cancer in remission. I have come to realize the things I do to stay sober are actually keeping my alcoholism in remission. Recovered, recovery, recovering, or remission.