[waves]

i used to abuse alcohol.

in the past year, i've actually had an unexplained aversion to it. no idea why... not on any drugs that would cause such an aversion. also very averse to feeling its effects at all - barely tipsy, or drowsy. i'd at most have a glass of wine with dinner, and feel annoyed if i felt it.

lately i've been having beer in the afternoon. one 16 ounce beer, tops. on my birthday, i went to the bar, and i had 2 of them, but it was an exception. anyway... i still don't enjoy being tipsy but it doesn't seem to bother me as much. also, i am appreciating the slight numbing effect it has on me. i am a little concerned, but not terribly.

on the one hand, i know i need to keep an eye on things and not abuse alcohol. when you start appreciating the pharmacological effects, it is very easy to move into abuse. some might even say, it is abuse (self-medication, as opposed to recreational).

on the other hand, i know that i am not an alcoholic. and so appreciating a good weissbeer for the way it tastes, or a glass of rose with dinner, is ok.

i guess i wanted a place where i could share the good and the bad about it, and sort of keep track. and if anyone else wants to share and/or keep track of any aspects of alcohol... use... concerns... enjoyment... whatever... so much the better. concerns about others are welcome too.

thanks for listening

~ waves ~

[bizi]

I love to drink and like the effects. I have a decrease in my social anxiety issues so I use it to feel more at ease with strangers in social settings.
Is this abuse????
There are some really great tasting beers out there and I like the dark high alcohol content of them I also like the blue berry beer that is high alcohol content. but also high caloire.
I had a better handle of my drinking when I was following a strict diet.
now I am not so I am already drinking more and more often.
great topic of conversation.
bizi

[waves]

Hi Bizi, thank you for joining me.

drinking to feel less anxious is a form of self-medicating. i would call that 'using' because it is a means to an end but i don't consider it 'abuse' unless it is excessive. 'Excessive' is somewhat subjective too. some people consider all self-medication abuse but if you go by the DSM, there have to be other aspects to consider it abuse.

i have used it that way, too, btw... for social anxiety. and i believe it is quite common in our society. "aww, c'mon, relax, have a drink..." it's everywhere, really.

i 'used' alcohol in lots of other ways too. at various times, when depressed, when manic, when angry, for pain, and for euphoria. lately i'm not sure what it is but i am appreciating the effect as well as the taste.

i would love to taste you blueberry beer... maybe someday i've had raspberry beer before - that was gooooooooood. i'm not too crazy about dark beers in general, but i have had a few that i did like... used to go to a place called The Mill, that brewed their own... had some awesome stuff there.

~ waves ~

[mymorgy]

i think my father was bipolar ii and self medicated with alcohol...he was an alcoholic so i have a different view. i recently within the past year stopped seeing somebody i had been seeing for almost four years because he kept on telling me wine was good for me and he kept on encouraging me to drink. his son is bipolar and his son's doctor told his son not todrink while on his medications, my doctor told me not to drink while on these medications, so i stopped seeing the guy because i felt he didn't really care about me
bobby

[waves]

Dear Bobby

i am so sorry about your friend trying to push alcohol on you Bobby, that is not right at all. it is no different than trying to persuade someone to smoke cigarettes or do street drugs.

and even if you weren't on the medications, i agree it would be unadvisable for you to drink, because of the diabetes.

i understand about alcohol and meds... all of them have warnings... i'm sure bizi is aware too... i know my body and my reactions to the meds, and meds plus alcohol, and it is a choice i make with open eyes. but technically you are right, it would be better not to drink with meds - certainly it is not right to suggest to others who are on meds to drink on top of the meds.

~ waves ~

[mymorgy]

thanks...i do have my father's chemistry and when i drink, my depression goes away so it is an awful temptation....thank you for reminding me of the diabetes ....i forgot about that
love
bobby

[bizi]

Originally Posted by waves

lately i've been having beer in the afternoon. one 16 ounce beer, tops. on my birthday, i went to the bar, and i had 2 of them, but it was an exception. anyway... i
~ waves ~

I missed this when was your birthday?????
happy belated birthday!!!!!
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[bizi]

well I think I was rebellious last night...drank too much (3 big cidars and the last shot of key lime pie) and after 9, over the course of 5 1/2 hours (4;30 to 10) and did not sleep well and got up late and missed my morning appointment....
today is a new day....
sigh
bizi

[Mari]

Dear Bizi,
Sometimes we make changes a little at a time.
You are doing well.
I am VERY happy that you are staying off the road when you are drinking. Thank you. You are safe when you drink at home.

M.

[waves]

Dear Bizi

i agree with Mari - you are doing great with the driving. that is huge, no, it is huge! you are helping yourself, jeff, and everyone else on the road by doing that. Thank you, from me too.

i am glad you got to have an evening with drinks at home. it sounded nice.

as for the rebellion... well. it happens.

you are being honest with yourself. this allows you to be self-aware. awareness is important. you are where you are, but also, you *know* where you are. from there, you are working towards being someplace different. that is the best you can do. nobody can expect more of you than that.

~ waves ~ suffering similar difficulties of late...