>>I am really scaring the h**l out of myself. Not even trying to control the narrative any more, just hanging on. My name is Mike and I am an alcoholic. I am going to go into rehab. Yeah, sure, as my friend Marie said so many times. You like to say it but you can't do it. You won't get help. It's just your stupid secret. You drink because you want to drink, period. Push send, dummy.
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>My father quit drinking when I was a teenager. As much as we wanted him to quit before that, he couldn't until he really wanted to. I'm rooting for you.


Thanks, Evan. I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and support. It means a lot. If I manage to beat this problem I am going to need all the support I can get.

I was very hesitant to come out into the open about my problem. Maybe other drinkers are different but I have always considered it a secret, shameful thing. Until yesterday there were very few people I told I have a drinking problem. I'm sure some have been observant enough to figure it out on their own but it was mostly a secret. I didn't want anyone knowing because I didn't want to be labeled. Well, that approach didn't work too well, did it? With the response I have gotten here I regret waiting so long.

A big thank you to everyone, including those who have contacted me by email. It's funny because my friend Marie used to give me a hard time about being a "blabbermouth" online. "You tell everyone this, that, and the other. Those aren't your friends, Mikey, they're acquaintances. It isn't real. It's just chat." I could never convince her that the friendships are indeed real. This is living proof.