Well, I let it get so far out of hand that my only solution appeared to be suicide. Luckily that attempt failed and I received the help I long since needed. That, together with knowing the next drink will probably kill me, is a great motivator to stay sober!

This is not a joke or an exaggeration, but I also realize its of not much help to most people. What I can say is that in every self-help group I've been to there is a history of family instability found in every single one of the participants. It affects people more than they think and it's a good idea to read up on it. Even if you think your childhood was stellar - when you're faced with irrational behavior you can't seem to stop, there is a reason for that. And that reason is usually found in the formative years of your life.

Especially western middle-class 'perfect childhoods' are plagued with invisible emotional neglect and unhealthy boundaries between children and parents. We just don't see it as such because it's the norm.