why continue to drink?

[Doggygirl]

why continue to drink?

Kate, my experience was a lot like yours. I didn't drink when I was bored / unhappy and not drink when I wasn't. I drank all the time. Some of my most embarrassing drunken experiences were at very high points in my career. Ugghh..

DG

[hillsidetime]

why continue to drink?

Hey Spuds, this is a riddle that is at the heart of addiction therapy, treatment, and quests to undertstand addiction.

Like I was mentioning with Akgirl, part of it, I think, is the fact that much like smoking one cigarette, in and of itself, won't hurt you; drinking one beer won't hurt you. If our mind see's things as just one night, or one weekend, it is easier to say "Oh it's fine to drink". The moments are short term, the harm is longer term, so it slips in the back door, sneaks up on us - so does the decrease in brain function, and the worse decision making etc.

Another aspect, I think, has to do with brain physiology. My wife, has an affinity, you could use small a, addiction, to buying things at a bargain. She loves the way her brain feels, when doing this. She buys crap she doesn't need, that she knows she shouldn't buy, but she does it anyway. Frequently she tells me she is not going to do it anymore, but it cycles back. For some people, I think alcohol does a similar thing in our brains.

One other curveball that alcohol delivers, is that the first drink or two can almost be classes as stimulants, and than the depressant nature of the drug takes over. Also it is clear through evolution, that this poison, is not meant to be in our body. It is not natural, and our body has not had enough years (tens of thousands) to figure out how to deal with the poison.

Just some thoughts,
Hill

[spuddleduck]

why continue to drink?

good point hill about the 'just one session' . i say session as i know its never just one drink. since ive gone from almost daily drinking when i started to weekly or twice weekly i almost feel im getting away with it. now i know this is so untrue, the amounts i drink on a binge are very harmful and i lose the next day completely, not to mention my awful behaviour when drunk. when i started this last year my life was pretty much on hold from drinking, i wasnt working so i could drink and recover daily. i had to do something about it and i did, but obviously not enough. im now working part time, love my job and have never gone in with a hangover, life is pretty fine when i dont drink. if i didnt know myself i would say i was bloody stupid to even think about drinking. to be honest drinking now does nothing for me apart from the initial hour, or even half hour when i can that little buzz and squash the crave. why destroy my life for an hour of 'relief'. crazy! and yes, my body doesnt deal well with this poison

[momof3]

why continue to drink?

Hey spuds,

One analogy I can think of here is people who struggle with obesity. Many have a desire to lose weight and they know what they have to do (diet and exercise are the tried and trues) yet they don't. Desire is the fist step but then it has to be followed up with strong commitment and hard work.

Quitting alcohol is even worse because it is an addiction that causes changes in our brains that compel us to want to drink more even when our lives are in shambles. For me, it was important that I have a plan, set some goals, and work hard every day to achieve them. I had to continually keep my eye on the sobriety prize. It is not hard now because I love my AF life and there is no room in it for alcohol. But I am always aware that I am just one drink away.

M3