Do you have an alcohol problem? There is a solution.

Ultimately, the decision to seek help for alcoholism is a personal one. Many A.A. members have walked a similar path. They may have been told they just needed more willpower, a change of scenery, or a new hobby. But deep down, they knew alcohol had them beaten. They were ready to try anything to break free from the compulsion to drink.

In A.A., it’s understood that alcoholism is not a matter of degrees. You’re either an alcoholic or you’re not. And only the individual can determine if alcohol has become an unmanageable problem.

Most A.A.s will say that it’s how you drink, not how often, that determines whether or not you are an alcoholic. Many problem drinkers can go weeks, months, and occasionally years between their bouts with alcohol. During their periods of sobriety, they may not give drinking a second thought. Without mental or emotional effort, they can take it or leave it alone and prefer to leave it alone.

Then, without warning or any discernible trigger, they embark on a full-blown binge.

They neglect their job, family, and other civic and social responsibilities. The spree may last a single night or be prolonged for days or weeks. When it is over, the drinker is usually weak and remorseful, but also determined never to let it happen again. This determination, despite the odds, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. But it does happen again and again.

Anonymity is and always has been the basis of the AA program. Most members, after they have been in AA a while, have no particular objection if the word gets around that they have joined a fellowship that enables them to stay sober. Traditionally, A.A.s never disclose their association with the movement in print, on the air, or through any other public or social media. This means that members do not share their full names, photos, or personal stories in public forums. And no one has the right to break the anonymity of another member.