very true, we do use lots of things... caffeine for instance. heck, i even 'use' food. comfort-eating is 'using' food.

but problems with alcohol can be very subtle. knowing one's one limits is not as easy as it might seem - we tend to rationalize. often, we do not know our own limits until we exceed them.

it is strongly addictive, physically as well as psychologically. it produces euphoria, reduces inhibitions, reduces anxiety, reduces pain, induces sleep, disturbs sleep architecture, changes food metabolism, changes stomach acidity... and long term lots of other things. alcohol is a drug, and a whether or not it is 'used' for its pharmacological effects, it must be regarded with the same caution. the fact that it is also used recreationally or for taste, complicates this. we who take benzodiazepines need to be even more mindful, because benzos and alcohol cause cross-tolerance as well as additive effects.

i have had problems with abusing alcohol before, and very serious ones... it is important for me to monitor myself. self-awareness and even some second-guessing is helpful as it is best to keep the situation from becoming problematic, and if it is, to keep it from spinning out of control.

once there is a problem, even if one sees it, it is very hard to fix. in my case it was fixed by circumstance, not by willpower. i only recently had "proof" that i am not an alcoholic because i experienced aversion - which alcoholics do not.

~ waves ~