by Craig J Davenport

Created on: May 16, 2008   Last Updated: March 27, 2010

The only way to realize if you are an alcoholic is within your own mind. I started drinking socially when I was about twenty three years old. I did this for many, many years with really no noticeable ill effects. I eventually started looking forward to any occasion when drinking was sociably acceptable. I think this is the first sign that the disease is taking over.

I have been associated with many alcoholics in my life. Some of us sought treatment. Some didn't. I was one who did take the easy step, at first, and joined AA. I was around fifty at the time. That program was not for me. The only thing I didn't like about it was the association with the criminals who were forced to enter the program by some judge. They made it obvious they didn't want to be there.

I still didn't face the fact that alcoholism had set in on me. In my case it came in steps. First I drank casually. Then to keep others from realizing just how much I was drinking, I started hiding and drinking. Around fifty five years of age I had it hidden everywhere. I even hid it where I couldn't find it. At this point I had been to rehab several times to no avail. All I could think of when I was in the facility was getting out and getting a drink.

I believe the only person who can really help someone with the disease is the person themselves. First, you have to realize that you have the problem. This is probably the most important step. When you realize what effect it's having on the people around you. When you realize you can't perform your job as well as you were capable, mainly due to hangovers. Without going into too much detail, I completely stopped drinking when I realized I was going to lose my Wife. I had to decide whether I loved the alcohol more than I loved my wife.

I decided very quickly that I loved my Wife more than anything, so my answer was easy. I did realize that the AA, Rehab, Psychiatrists, and all the other so-called help was a waste of my time and theirs. I have been sober for six years now. The biggest shame of the whole situation is that I wasn't threatened sooner, since now I'm sixty five, and look back on what I missed when I was younger and drinking, actually mostly drunk in my early fifties.

I don't believe that alcohol causes brain cells to die any more than they do if you don't drink. I had an IQ of 137 when I was eighteen. I have an IQ of 137 today. If you don't get anything out of this article, do remember this, the worst sign, when you don't look forward to the normal things that you did before, without drinking, you are still in trouble! If you can't enjoy normal things without drinking, you are still sick. There is still Hope.

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