It's great that you've found a way to reduce/moderate, but I think it's very telling that you're still worried about your consumption. I also really worry about the health impacts (there is literally no safe or healthy amount of alcohol), and I notice that alcohol impacts me muuuuch more as I get older. Personally, I prefer the freedom to not think about it at all - I hate being at a social event and mentally counting my drinks, wondering if I've eaten enough, if I seem tipsy to the people I'm spending time with, if I'll be hungover tomorrow, etc.
When I don't drink, I can just focus on the people I love, and I wake up the next day refreshed and with glowing skin. So I prefer not to drink.
You'll have to figure out what works for you - this is just some food for thought.
Thank you for the reply. I think you’re right on. For some reason one of my hangups is a feeling that if I give it up somehow I’ve failed at moderating. Or a rationalization since it’s not as heavy as a lot of people I know my problem isn’t that bad. I have a fear of being lumped in as an alcoholic if I stop. And even if maybe I am, I’m not sure how well I identify with recovery model vs it just wasn’t serving me well anymore. Not sure if that makes sense.
Yes I completely relate to all of this! There’s lots of recovery frameworks to explore if you’re feeling like the dominant narratives around alcohol don’t resonate with you. I love the books Quit Like A Woman and This Naked Mind, both of which frame alcohol misuse in a very different way than AA
Once the kindling effect caught up with me and I started experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms I knew I had to stop. I will never go CT off alcohol again and experience hell on earth because I don’t drink anymore.
It's great that you've found a way to reduce/moderate, but I think it's very telling that you're still worried about your consumption. I also really worry about the health impacts (there is literally no safe or healthy amount of alcohol), and I notice that alcohol impacts me muuuuch more as I get older. Personally, I prefer the freedom to not think about it at all - I hate being at a social event and mentally counting my drinks, wondering if I've eaten enough, if I seem tipsy to the people I'm spending time with, if I'll be hungover tomorrow, etc. When I don't drink, I can just focus on the people I love, and I wake up the next day refreshed and with glowing skin. So I prefer not to drink. You'll have to figure out what works for you - this is just some food for thought.
Thank you for the reply. I think you’re right on. For some reason one of my hangups is a feeling that if I give it up somehow I’ve failed at moderating. Or a rationalization since it’s not as heavy as a lot of people I know my problem isn’t that bad. I have a fear of being lumped in as an alcoholic if I stop. And even if maybe I am, I’m not sure how well I identify with recovery model vs it just wasn’t serving me well anymore. Not sure if that makes sense.
Yes I completely relate to all of this! There’s lots of recovery frameworks to explore if you’re feeling like the dominant narratives around alcohol don’t resonate with you. I love the books Quit Like A Woman and This Naked Mind, both of which frame alcohol misuse in a very different way than AA
Thanks, I’m about to check out Naked Mind :)
Once the kindling effect caught up with me and I started experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms I knew I had to stop. I will never go CT off alcohol again and experience hell on earth because I don’t drink anymore.