Somebody I know is an alcoholic but it's a secret they bear each day.

Somebody I know is an alcoholic. Someone you know is an alcoholic. Somebody I know is an alcoholic but it's a secret they bear each day. They know about groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and they could seek help from health care providers or medicaid, but medical records are no secret and many alcoholics fear their information will get shared. They also fear other things – stigma, loss of respect and validation by others, loss of self-esteem, and job loss or lack of promotions.

There is no cure for alcoholism and since it is a progressive disease, it only gets worse over time. The only approach to alcoholism is to 1) stop drinking, 2) join a support group, and 3) stay sober one day at a time. The greatest challenge is to live one day (this day) without alcohol. Whether someone drinks on an hourly basis or yearly basis is not the question. If someone can't handle alcohol, they are either allergic or they are an alcoholic. 

But how do you know if you or someone you know is an alcoholic? There are many tell-tale signs. They might suddenly disappear for several minutes and return in a different mood. Their behavior might become erratic or belligerent. They always drink too much or whenever they drink, something gets out of control. No, it's probably not you. It's probably that they are under the influence of alcohol. 

How do you know you are an alcoholic? You drink too much. You can't drink at all without getting out of control. You deny that you drink too much or that you even drink at all. You hide evidence of drinking. You drink early in the day and can't wait until you get your hands on another bottle.  You only drink on special occasions but one drink is never enough. You need a drink or your bodily functions and reactions will be impaired. These are only a few tell-tale signs of being an alcoholic.

For alcohol abusers, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a good place to start. If you feel your loved one has a problem with alcohol, consider joining Al-Anon, a support group for friends and families of alcoholics.  If you think you have a problem, attend AA meetings. If you don't want to attend meetings in your home time, find a town close by and attend weekly meetings there. Keep in mind, if you see anyone at the meeting, they will be anonymous and so will you. If you happen to know anyone attending the meeting, find comfort in knowing they are in the same situation as you are. Or they wouldn't be there. 

If you are an alcoholic, get help because alcoholism is a progressive disease – it only gets worse. If someone you know has a problematic relationship with alcohol, find answers by attending Al-Anon and asking them to attend AA meetings. After an alcoholic stops drinking, the secret to success in staying sober one day at a time is attending meetings on a regular basis and finding a support group to depend on when the going gets rough.