"Admitting that you've struggled with alcohol is a lot less shameful than it used to be. But despite huge strides in pop culture and science, coming clean still isn't always easy. In the realm of difficult things to talk about, admitting that you're a recovering alcoholic probably falls somewhere between "I'm a Wiccan" and "I'm a serial killer" on the shameful-revelation scale. After all, alcoholism is a disease, according to the American Medical Association, like diabetes or arthritis—a painful but treatable illness. Except, of course, that alcoholism is different. People don't tend to shy away when you tell them you have arthritis.
And for those who get sober through AA, they have to face the inevitable Cult Question: “Don’t you have to believe in Jesus and hold hands and give money?” well-meaning friends will ask. The unavoidability of these questions means that a big part of the process of coming out as a recovering alcoholic for 12-steppers can be explaining what, in fact, Alcoholics Anonymous actually is. Yes, it’s a spiritual program, but no, it’s not religious. Yes, members donate money to AA, but it’s totally optional (and nobody could argue that a dollar or two per meeting breaks the bank). Sure, there’s hand holding in the meetings, but not always and you don’t have to participate if you’re uncomfortable. Many AA members find the easiest way to explain the program to so-called normies is to just invite them along to an open meeting. Once families and friends can see that it’s not even remotely like a cult, they may even find themselves enthusiastic about the program they once judged as being just south of Scientology.
Perhaps even trickier than coming out to friends and family is announcing to colleagues that you’re in recovery. How will they treat you now, will you lose your job, or be looked over for a promotion? That is best left up to the individual and his/her circumstances at work.
The great news is that we live in a recovery-saturated time, where watching celebrities in treatment on television and reading addiction memoirs is the norm; as a result, alcoholism and addiction doesn’t carry the stigma they once did. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy or comfortable to admit you’re in recovery. The first defense against misunderstanding is discretion. Then, with a big dose of courage, and a good sense of humor, the process can feel like a liberation instead of a death sentence."
I don't have a problem with telling people why I don't drink. I don't say "I'm an alcoholic" my usual line is "the booze was starting to take control and I wanted that control back" It took time for our circle of friends to realize that I was serious about this, but now they keep Coke stocked in the beer fridge just for me! That would have only happened if I came clean about my problem..
And for those who get sober through AA, they have to face the inevitable Cult Question: “Don’t you have to believe in Jesus and hold hands and give money?” well-meaning friends will ask. The unavoidability of these questions means that a big part of the process of coming out as a recovering alcoholic for 12-steppers can be explaining what, in fact, Alcoholics Anonymous actually is. Yes, it’s a spiritual program, but no, it’s not religious. Yes, members donate money to AA, but it’s totally optional (and nobody could argue that a dollar or two per meeting breaks the bank). Sure, there’s hand holding in the meetings, but not always and you don’t have to participate if you’re uncomfortable. Many AA members find the easiest way to explain the program to so-called normies is to just invite them along to an open meeting. Once families and friends can see that it’s not even remotely like a cult, they may even find themselves enthusiastic about the program they once judged as being just south of Scientology.
Perhaps even trickier than coming out to friends and family is announcing to colleagues that you’re in recovery. How will they treat you now, will you lose your job, or be looked over for a promotion? That is best left up to the individual and his/her circumstances at work.
The great news is that we live in a recovery-saturated time, where watching celebrities in treatment on television and reading addiction memoirs is the norm; as a result, alcoholism and addiction doesn’t carry the stigma they once did. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy or comfortable to admit you’re in recovery. The first defense against misunderstanding is discretion. Then, with a big dose of courage, and a good sense of humor, the process can feel like a liberation instead of a death sentence."
I don't have a problem with telling people why I don't drink. I don't say "I'm an alcoholic" my usual line is "the booze was starting to take control and I wanted that control back" It took time for our circle of friends to realize that I was serious about this, but now they keep Coke stocked in the beer fridge just for me! That would have only happened if I came clean about my problem..
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