Somebody I know is an alcoholic...Somebody I know hides the same secret every day.

Somebody I know is an alcoholic. Someone you know is an alcoholic. Somebody I know hides the same secret every day. They know about groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and they could seek help from health care providers or medicaid, but medical records are not protected and many alcoholics fear their information will get hacked and shared. They also fear other things – stigma, loss of respect or invalidation by others, loss of self-esteem and job loss or lack of promotions as a result of being exposed.

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 through rehab or on your own, 2) join a support group, and 3) struggle to 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. An alcoholic 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 think about your next drink incessantly, or you hide evidence of your drinking. You might only drink on special occasions but one drink is never enough. You need a drink or your bodily functions and reactions will seem impaired. You need to fill that hole in your soul with a good stiff drink at least once a day but you might be able to wait. These are only a few tell-tale signs of alcoholism.

For alcohol abusers, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a good place to start.  Or if you feel your loved one has a problem with alcohol, consider joining Al-Anon, a support group for friends and families of alcoholics. They encourage you to take care of yourself and they teach you to separate your identity from that of your alcoholic loved one. If you think you have a problem, attend AA meetings. If you don't want to attend meetings in your hometown, 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. If they decide to not attend, remember to attend such meetings for your own benefit. After an alcoholic stops drinking, the secret to success is staying sober one day at a time, attending meetings on a regular basis and finding a support group to depend on when the going gets rough. Staying sober is possible, especially when you know you are not alone.