Thursday, February 5, 2015

Recovering Alcoholic Shares Her Struggle

My daytime friends didn't drink, and that was OK. I socialized with my drinking friends at night, because they didn't make me feel guilty. If I went to dinner with friends who were light drinkers, I felt uncomfortable.

Did your husband have an impact on your alcohol consumption?
I [thought] my husband drank as much as I did, [that] we were on an even playing field. [But] we weren't.

I already had consumed one or two martinis when he came home from work. Then he'd have one and I'd join him. We'd have wine with dinner. Afterward, I'd open a bottle of wine and pour myself [more].

I thought he was keeping up, but it was clear later that he wasn't drinking as much as me.

When I quit, he drew way back. He rarely drank at home. He's not an alcoholic.

What prompted you to stop drinking and become a recovering alcoholic?
About 12 years ago, I attended two drinking parties back to back and drank until I blacked out. When I awoke the next day, I realized I'd fallen and cracked my head. It was pounding.

I was supposed to go out that night and drink again. When I was getting ready to go, I realized I couldn't do it anymore. I was disgusted with my drinking and how I was living.