[Sharene] "I didn't think I needed to cut back ... I never drank during the day."

[Charles] "I didn't think I had a problem ... I'd held a steady job for 30 years."

[Linda] "I was sure everything was fine ... My kids never saw me drunk."

[Dylan] "How could there be any issues? ... I mostly drank beer."

[Host] A lot of people don't think that they have alcohol problems ...

or that they're headed toward them.

But problems related to alcohol touch all kinds of people, in all kinds of ways.

It may feel like alcohol is the best way to relax, or to deal with difficult situations.

But it can come at a price.

[Linda BEFORE] "Booze is my best friend. A nice buzz makes all my responsibilities and dealing with my family completely a-okay."

[AFTER] "When I was drinking, I was numb. I didn't have to feel.

Getting sober gave me a way out of my depression and a chance to reconnect with my family."

[Dylan BEFORE] "I'm the life of the party.

Alcohol makes me feel bigger, better, more confident."

[AFTER] "I could be totally bombed but I just kept drinking.

I don't miss the blackouts, the hangovers ... the feeling of not being able to stop."

[Sharene BEFORE] "I'm the girl who can keep up with the boys all night long.

I can't imagine fun without drinking or drugs."

[AFTER] "After I cut back ...

and realized that it only took me two drinks to get out of control ...

I started listening to late-night conversations at parties and thinking 'Is that the kind of stuff I said?' and 'Did I look and sound that sloppy and agree to just about anything?' Yikes."

[Charles BEFORE] "When I'm drinking, nothing can hurt me.

I drink because even though my life is far from perfect, I feel great.

It doesn't matter that the booze is destroying my liver."

[AFTER] "One day I woke up and decided I wanted more out of life.

And I think I saved myself from a slow, painful, early death.

Now that I don't drink all the time ... I'm not so moody ... I sleep well ...

and I'm saving money for the first time in years."

[Host] Maybe you've had a wake-up call related to your drinking ...

or you can picture what that might look like.

There may come a time when it may be helpful to list the pros and cons of drinking or to start imagining a different life ...

whatever you think of as a "good life."

In time ... with help ... you can get back what alcohol has taken from you.

You can be the person you want to be.