Much to my wife’s chagrin in company I identify myself as an alcoholic when I feel it is relevant. Although definitely a topic for discussion this post is not about the fact that I can say this comfortably in public, instead it is about what I often do not say… “Recovering”.

This point was brought up in a meeting not too long ago as we were discussing some of the reasons I openly admit my alcoholism. These reasons include 1) to put others with addictions at ease when we are discussing personal issues, 2) to make family members and friends realize this is a common problem and there should be no shame in coming out talking about these sorts of problems, 3) to serve as an example that just because one is an alcoholic, doesn’t mean they have to be a gutter drunk, and 4) to stand up when others speak act discriminately or have gross misconceptions about the subject of alcoholism and substance abuse.

Believe me, nothing ices down a water-cooler discussion on “no-good drunks and addicts” like saying saying, “I’m an alcoholic, why don’t you ask me about the subject?”

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Now back to the issue of dropping the “recovering” caveat. I don’t know exactly when I started doing this, but many of those in my recovery group have noticed I often don’t use the qualifier. I guess the reason is I no longer feel the stigma that so many want to relate with the title. The recovering part should be obvious enough to anyone that has half a brain and an opinion that I would care to value.

There is something to be said for the anonymity of groups like AA. There was a time in my life that I was petrified that someone would find out about my disease. But that is a bygone era, today I am proud of how far I have come and pleased with the rewards of my recovery. I do not cringe at what others may think and in fact often seek out those who would malign the less fortunate desperately trying to improve their lives against almost insurmountable odds.

I owe it all to my ongoing recovery, so much that I do not even feel the need to mention it when telling people that:

“I am an alcoholic.”