I was perusing the discussions and fell upon this one. WOW! This is "so me". I visit the site to talk about Stage 4 Breast Cancer with other patients like me. I am also an Alcoholic. It took me decades, yes decades, to admit it. My parents, 2 brothers (who won't admit it) and 2 sons all fall in this category. We aren't (usually) falling down drunks. We all work(ed) FT jobs, held down households, did what we are supposed to, (functioning alcoholics) but when we drank......hold on tight. Over the years I went months, even a few years (during pregnancy) and didn't drink. But on those occasions I started, it just kept going, to keep that good feeling, and then to recover from the bad feelings. A vicious cycle. I quit drinking right before I was diagnosed with Cancer (Apr. 2019) because I "felt" something was wrong. A week later I got my diagnosis. I didn't have time to think about drinking then and no urges even entered my mind. Now, last July 4th and again in Sept. something triggered in my mind and I let myself have a few......well there is no "few". I went to E.R. in Sept. because aside from drinking, something was wrong. Ends up all the alcohol consumption had drained the natural sodium from my body to dangerous levels which can cause seizures. Now, I live with the embarrassment as all my doctors got the notes and have labelled me a problem drinker even though I had quit for so long and only drank on 2 occasions and am back to my sobriety (for good hopefully this time as I help my now recovering son and son still in denial). I honestly think doctors treat you differently if they think/know you have a drinking problem. Just my opinion. Thanks for letting me air my thoughts. Have a great sober day everyone.
Peggie