I am a functioning alcoholic. I have been drinking heavily for over 10 years now. Nobody knows how bad it has gotten. I’m a very respected professional, an accomplished engineer, an officer in the military, and well liked among both my superiors and subordinates. My parents frequently tell me how proud they are of me. What they don’t know, is that I am horribly addicted to alcohol. Any time I’m not at work, I’m drunk. I’m drunk now. My liver started failing a couple years ago, and I lied to the military doctors. I told them I don’t drink at all and let them go through test after test to figure out why I was so sick. They probably knew, but I held to the lie to avoid hurting my career. Now I know It’s probably too late. I’m 31 and every day I feel like I’m dieing. I probably am. And still I hold to the lie to save face and continue being respected. Any time now it’s all going to come crashing down. God help me.
