I used to dread the possibility of having to go sober. The only thing worse than a hangover was the thought of stopping drinking forever. I would often wonder if there were others like me. Do you ever ask yourself …Why can’t I be normal? Drink a normal amount at the pub, head home and leave it at that. What is normal drinking really? Think about it. Is there a normal, healthy, relationship to alcohol or is it a mug’s game?
Perspective. It’s all a matter of perspective.
It used to be that I could have three or four drinks at the pub and leave with my dignity intact. But then, towards the end of my drinking career, I started to go out to the bar a bit earlier than most. I’d have three drinks before others arrived, before the game would start. I’d see people like the old me come in, they could have a few, and head home. That wasn’t me anymore, I always wanted one more…then another.
My phone would ring asking if I wanted a lift home, I would respond that they could come and get me in an hour. Then I would meet somebody interesting at the bar, drink excessively with them and talk about the state of the world; the hour would come and go. Another phone call asking when I would need a lift home would occur. I would be ready then- I had imbibed 10-12 pints and could go home and have a few more.
I would wake up the next day to a hangover, arguments and depression. I would be full of self-loathing wondering why I can’t be normal, why I can’t drink like normal people. What is normal drinking really? Think about it. Is it all a matter of perspective?
We as humans don’t really listen to our bodies.
COVID-19 has killed almost 3,000,000 people so far . Many of our countries are in lock down. Unemployment is at record numbers. A major recession or economic depression is just around the corner. Turn on any television in any country and all you see is COVID-19, COVID-19, COVID-19.
So I have a question for you.
If I gave you a pill that would make you feel groggy, give you a sore throat and a few aches and pains, then a few days later you’ll have a fever and a dry cough. You feel like shit. If you haven’t guessed it by now, I’ve given you a COVID-19 pill. Most of you will recover in a weeks or two however others will be in an intensive care unit fighting for their lives. However, a small percent of you will die. Not too bad odds right? Would you swallow it knowing the odds?
Here’s another question.
If I gave you a pill that tastes so repulsive that your initial reaction is to spit it out yet you tell yourself that you just need to get used to the taste, so take more to do this. You end up vomiting and wake with a headache, regrets and shame- you feel like you might die. This pill is alcohol. If you agree to take it, you might feel better by day two but then it gets in your ear and whispers to you, “alcohol will make you more funny, more attractive, it’ll allow you to socialize without inhibition.” Then over time, it might take years but you begin to get ill and three and a half million of you will die every year. Would you swallow this one, knowing the odds?
I’m guessing that none of you will take the COVID-19 pill, because all it promises is illness and death to you or a loved one. However, how many of you will continue to take the alcohol pill? The pill that society pushes on us so that we can become more us. The pill that comes without warnings.
So I’m guessing you could say that it’s all a matter of perspective. Weighing the costs against the benefits.
Side effects of alcohol – the Costs
Three and a half million dead yearly as a result of alcohol
Two hundred diseases linked to the consumption of alcohol
Alcohol may damage your children
You may beat or kill your spouse and children
You may kill others whilst under the influence
You may cost millions to your health service
You may contract a mental illness
You may kill yourself
You may destroy your own and others lives due to crime
You and your family may become homeless
The list is endless– there is no bottle big enough to contain the side-effects of alcohol. It is amusing what is accepted in society. Twenty years ago tobacco was encouraged and sold just like alcohol is today, no warnings and cheap as hell. These days you can fit all of the warnings needed to repel people onto a small packet of cigarettes today. Is the side effects of alcohol really worth a few hours of pleasure? It kills indiscriminately and tastes like shit anyway. Yet it still tries to promise you a better you.
I have thrown out the alcohol pill for the past thirteen weeks. From my perspective as a newly sober person here’s some thing’s that have made me a better me –
The benefits of living alcohol free :
I have more clarity
My skin is clearer
Food tastes amazing
I’m a nicer person
I’m more motivated
I get out of bed earlier
I have saved money
I don’t get caught up in the little things
I don’t enjoy drunk people anymore
I don’t get as angry as I used to
I’m not fighting with myself about whether to drink or not to drink
I may miss it sometimes, but I certainly don’t miss the hangover
I now have a propensity for lists
I have saved my own life
I have saved my own Life.
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Don’t let the shame of the stigma keep you from saying
“I think I have a problem with drinking”
How do you go Sober? ( more reading in blue titles)
B Be accountable Talk to Us We Understand
A Avoid alcohol like the plague Ideas Here
L Let yourself enjoy regular sober treats Ideas Here
A Allow yourself to cry when needed Ideas Here
N Nourish your body with good food Ideas Here
C Create happy & fun memories Ideas Here
E Enjoy the precious moments in your day Ideas Here
W Work hard to get what you want Ideas Here
O Organise things for less stress Ideas Here
R Realise you can’t control it all Ideas Here
K Keep going & prepare for success Ideas Here
S Sleep enough for body & mind rest Sleep Solutions
