Judgement

The stigmas associated with being labeled an alcoholic, or any type of addict for that matter, is a fairly long list that can often have negative consequences on the individual.  The negative connotations, often unfair and some times uneducated beliefs, disapproval by friends and family, a simple mark of disgrace; all of which can lead to discrimination at work, difficulty even finding a job, harassment, the idea that you are a failure and will never succeed in life.

Stigma = shame and shame = silence.

I have spent a lot of time reading about alcoholism and addicts in the last year and a half, simply to try and understand my own issues.  However, research on functional alcoholics is minimal at best. Mainly due to the what you just read.  Thankfully, in my small part of the world, I never experienced much of what is listed.  I was well known as the big drinker among friends and colleagues.  For me, if I didn't have a beer in my hand, or both, then the harassment began.  I also no longer have a high profile job, which in a sense allows me to have more freedom to say and write exactly how I feel without any negative consequences.  In the same respect, I have always been pretty outspoken on certain subjects, and would and still will give you my opinion regardless if you ask for it.  Just ask any of my current or former bosses at work.

Stigmas are a pretty shitty way of stereotyping a person based on something that has happened in their life, even if it is an uncontrolable disease.  Take the 1850's novel The Scarlet Letter for instance.  Yes, I have read it...not just watched the Demi Moore version.  A woman was forced to wear the letter "A" and face public humiliation for an adulterous relationship.  I am in no way saying adultery is a disease, just simply using Hester's downfall as an example of what happens when someone is placed in a position of being publicly labeled, whether right or wrong.

I have had plenty of judgemental remarks towards the way I look, dress, how I present myself, and even some in relation to my job...simply because I choose to work in retail and am a blue collar worker must in some way mean that I am uneducated.  Surprisingly, or maybe not so much, a lot of these were initiated by my parents.  I guess that is part of the reason why I am not ashamed of admitting that I was an alcoholic, or professional drunk as I like to call it, that I did seek counseling for it, and I do now rely in part on certain meds to get me through the day.  And I can honestly say that the feedback has been extremely, and overwelmingly positive.  Although, I am sure someone out there thinks I am a nut job that can not overcome alcoholism...once a drunk, always a drunk right?! Well, I'm not dead, not certifiable, and no longer a drinker, except Big Red and that doesn't count. So, judge me as you please because I will prove you wrong.  I am not ashamed of the disease that I battle and I will not be silent about it.

The moral of the story is this:  if there were less stigmas attached to alcoholics, maybe there would be less silence, thus more information gathered about the disease...all leading to a single resolution and avoidance of using alcohol as a cover-up.  But for now, we are stuck with the mom and pop age old response of "don't drink because it's bad for you".