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Whatever you do, I would advise AGAINST joining AA or similar x-step programs. They tend to pigeonhole you permanently as "an alcoholic." I've known several individuals who've gone this route, and, without exception, they wear their alcoholism on their sleeves as an attention-getter.

I think what you say may not be popular, but I'm glad you said it because that has been my experience as well. At least half the people I know who joined AA weren't even alcoholics at all - they just blamed their problems on booze. And like you said, they wore this "I'm an alcoholic and can't drink" thing on their sleeve to the point it was annoying just to be around them.

The question is 'proud American in Canada', are you truly addicted or just irresponsible and prone to indulge in what makes you feel good despite the consequences. The last girl I knew who joined AA was no less irresponsible after the fact. In fact, I think she got worse. Quite frankly she is just immature and lazy and AA didn't stop her from losing job after job, getting her car repo'd, etc. The only difference was she was not the least bit fun to be around because her AA thing felt like she was in some kind of cult, and it caused her to blame all her problems on something that simply wasn't what kept screwing up her life.

If you are truly addicted, then something like AA may be helpful. But you first need to be sure that alcohol is really the core problem in your life.

It sounds like you started running and that is a good start. Maybe instead of joining a detox/AA program, just put yourself on a fitness routine. Running, maybe join a gym and set goals for yourself that require sobriety to achieve (like exercise in the morning and at night), etc. In fact, set little goals for yourself every day. Success breeds success. Start small. Even if that is just cleaning some part of the house that's been neglected, then do something the next day, then add more. Pair that with your health regiment and you may find that is sufficient to tackle your problem.

Good luck and God bless.

Perhaps they have a 12-step program for being an AA addict? :)

“Hello, my name is Bob, and I have been going to AA.”

We had one of these at work, and the employee’s involvement in it was very disruptive. We had an out-of-town company-wide retreat, and this employee insisted that he/she had to find an AA meeting in the area, even demanded that transportation be provided by the company. Needless to say, he/she did miss several mandatory meet ups. It eventually was a career ender at our company.