Why Do They Say I am Still an Alcoholic?

Question

I am fed up with the alcoholic label that was put on me. I started drinking at age 18. At age 19, I got a DUI. I would guess that I drank a total of about 10-15 times. I have not had a single drink since the night of my DUI arrest. I stopped hanging out with my old enabler friends, moved out of my dorm room (the dorm was filled with partiers-Even the RA would ask me to go party with her)

I had to go to AA meetings as part of my probation. There, members told me that I was an alcoholic and I would be an alcoholic for life. They told me I have a disease and I would ALWAYS have a craving for hard alcohol-So I would need to go to meetings at least 3 times a week for the rest of my life. They said if I stopped going to meetings when my probation ended, I would go back out drinking and die by the age of 30.

I did stop going to meetings when my probation ended. However, I never had a single craving to drink. I raised my self-esteem and learned how to be above the influence of peer pressure. When people ask me to drink, I always say no and don't let them talk me into it.

What is the whole point of the label alcoholic? Why were they so intent on labeling me it for life? I suppose they want me to think I am an alcoholic so I know I cannot handle alcohol, then never drink again. But I know I could handle alcohol. I know I could handle having one drink if I wanted it. Most of the times I drank in college was having 1 or 2....But I choose not to drink because I don't want to. I just don't find it appealing anymore since it can get me into trouble with the law.

How can I transcend this label? I am now 21...Haven't had a drink in two years.

Answer 1

You are not the kind of alcoholic that is in danger of returning to the old behavior of total dependence that does besiege in reality most of the people who go to AA.  And you know a couple of drinks now and then is not the alcoholic behavior unless you are letting it interfere with some more important activities in which case it still doesn't matter, if it interferes with your activities because you let it or determined it to be so, well you probably still have some reflection on this matter call it or not alcoholic behavior.  If you don't have this problem then perhaps you could use some personal uplifting and all I can say is pick yourself out off the ground and wipe the dust off and move on.

Answer 2

Good for you .. then you have the willpower to not drink.. what is meant by it that people who once were alcoholics is.. if they just have one glass of alcohol again.. they are back where they left of.. so as you have self discipline and say no.. you are not in danger but a lot of people do have some stress and if they used to be alcoholics.. what do they do when stress overcomes them? They try to find comfort in a drink of alcohol and then for them the whole vicious circle starts again.. you are a dry alcoholic... you don't have to say that to other people but every person who once was an alcohol addict and managed to give up is a dry alcoholic... if they drink again.. just once.  it's  back to square one.. that is meant by it..  Good luck and remain strong and don'[t drink again.. it is good to have your willpower. A lot of people don't ...

Answer 3

I agree that your AA group did not approach your situation with a personal touch, they have probably label ALL people the same way

I understand this could make you feel very unpleasant and uncomfortable

I suggest thou that instead of getting all upset about this all you have to do is look yourself and see that whatever it is that People Label and judge you for that was the Past and this is YOU today and you decided that YOU are valuable and Do not need to drink to be cool, or neither need this anoying people to remind you of your mistakes

You have learned from your mistake and Proven Yourself to the most important person YOU so paid no mind to what other people (which are probably losers) think.

If its overwhelming to the point is interfering with your life I really will reconsider changing college or maybe taking a break,

Can you talk to a mentor or a higher college adm.?...

maybe they can help by changing to another enviroment....

I wish you the best and don't let people get you down...

Remember you only get down if You let them

Never give permission to Nobody to Belittle you in any type shape or Form!

and never ever LOOk Bak :o)

God Bless,

Karaya

Answer 4

ahh  

Answer 5

Do not worry about it. One thing AA fails to tell you is that there is such a thing as moderation and responsibility. I went to AA on my own once for about 6 months, after awhile I got so tired of listening to all the depressing  stories all I wanted was to go get a drink after the meeting. Unless you are so hard core you need to have a baby sitter 24/7 and cannot stop at 1 to 3 drinks you do not need AA. But if your the type who cannot then buddy you better stay active in AA, they are a good organization.

Answer 6

It sounds like the whole thing is a big misunderstanding. Your AA group sucked. You're a lot better off then half the people your age. Don't worry about this.

Answer 7

Hi,

well, thank your self that you are not like those that need treatment for the rest of their lives.

some people are addicts or have addictive natures.  it can help these people to understand that these substances are toxic to them - that they cannot control their impulses and don't know when to stop.  for these people it is better for them to accept that they have a life-long problem which could be reignited by even one drink, sending them into another downward spiral of addiction and systematically ruining their lives and everything included.

the people in the groups mean well, they were trying to help you come to terms with what they face - a daily struggle against an addiction.  that labels can be powerful tools to help identify a problem and a plan of recovery.  you just didn't fit into that, thankfully.

i think that you can transcend the label by staying away from any sort of mind-altering substances.  that's it.  just don't do it.

Answer 8

I actually "deserve" the label, and I still don't use it.  I haven't had a drink in 10 years.  My medical chart says alcoholic and I have a medical history of rehab so there is nothing I can do about that.

But I CAN chose whether I apply the label to myself, and I don't.  I will sometimes say "former alcoholic" but that's just as taboo to the odd "recovery" crowd.