In the Shadow of Alcoholism
March 2, 2009 -- Diana is single with an active social life and has a good career selling insurance.
She worked long hours at her job and drank alone to relax, but this soothing ritual got out of control.
Though Diana, who asked "Good Morning America" to withhold her name to protect her privacy, told herself she was only going to have one glass, she knew she wouldn't able to stop there.
"It's the bottle," she said. "It's the whole bottle."
It was an addiction she needed to keep hidden from everyone she knew.
She tried to stop drinking on her own, but she says she could not go without alcohol for more than a few days.
She admits to having endangered others with her drinking by driving while intoxicated.
"It's really scary driving home and not remembering how I got there," she said. She sees the irony of selling insurance while drinking and driving. "And the line of work that I do, I mean, shame on me, you know?"
Diana had to take that unbearably difficult step of reaching out for help.
"Yes. I am Diana and I need help, and I want help," she said. "I do."
Diana is not alone. An estimated 5.3 million women in the United States drink in a way that threatens their health, safety and general well-being, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
