To have a drink or not

[IamFree]

Hi guys looking for your advice and experience....I went abstinent a few years ago to sort my life out and my binge drinking was a distraction...I did so without rehab or withdrawal so I don't believe I was an alcoholic..i don't want to get drunk again I hate the feeling and the hangovers and I would not go drinking with my old crowd ...but I like the idea of enjoying an occasional glass of wine...any one else here have any experience of going abstinent and returning to moderate drinking and did you find it beneficial...all these years of healing work can leave one terribly uptight...and boring ha ha ha

 

[Ronin]

I believe it's possible.

But I'm not capable of it, so sticking to abstinence it is. For me, when the choice is have a drink or not? That itself already speaks for 'not'. I just sometimes need others tell dumbass me that.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I occasionally drink a glass of red wine but most of the time I do not drink. I never drink to get drunk and I do it usually when I need to either unwind or celebrate. I wish you luck. I think moderation is healthy.

 

[EveHarrington]

Moderation may be healthy for some, but be aware that some with ptsd can’t handle any alcohol as it spikes symptoms.

 

[IamFree]

I guess a lot of it depends on which stage of recovery your at .

 

[Deleted member 12723]

depends on which stage of recovery your at .

If I was really spiking in my symptoms I would not drink at that time.

 

[Snowflakes]

@IamFree I went back and read your very first post here.
Based on your first post and my experiences, I think the risk of taking that first drink outweighs the benefits you have gained since your first post. Being boring is far more desirable than addiction. Again, I speak from experience and your first post.

Take care.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

I used to binge drink as a form of self-medication/distraction/avoidance/coping/attempting to "fit in"/etc. for most of my teen years and a huge portion of my adult life.

I finally managed to make it a "just relaxing after work" or "treating myself" or "for my health since I read somewhere it's healthy in moderation" or to "unwind"/"celebrate"/"chill out" on the weekends for many years once I hit my mid-30s with no recognized issues and no need for rehab to transition.

I managed to totally stop it overnight 3 years ago, thanks to a medical emergency, when I also gave up a shit load of other previously thought to be safe-ish/necessary substances I learned were causing much more harm than good, again, with no need for rehab to transition.

I'm guessing I'm not an alcoholic, either, but I most definitely have an addictive personality and finally/hopefully recognize when it's truly in my best interest to say not only no, but hell to the no.

I no longer have a desire/craving/taste for any booze(minus the small amount of vodka/grain alcohol/brandy I use in some tinctures and flower essences on occasion), but if I did, I don't think I could trust myself enough to healthily/mindfully partake in the often mistakenly perceived safe moderation scene.

It feels the same way with other drinks for me now, too, like caffeine/dairy stuff/artificial stuff and such, so it makes for really limited and interesting social times...as I often order a cup of hot water with lemon wedges....and I'm pretty sure I'm often viewed as uptight and boring, too, among many other things. lol

Oh well.....good thing I can easily entertain myself nowadays....for the health of it. Cheers to whatever you decide to do.

 

[IamFree]

life is so complicated should we choose are own experience or someone elses

 

[Sideways]

I can totally understand wanting to have a glass occasionally to join in with a celebration.

But introducing alcohol as a tool for helping you ‘relax and unwind’? If you have better, healthier tools that you’re currently using, why go back to using alcohol?

I also wonder at the benefit of caving to social pressure if you perceive that being sober somehow makes you boring? In my experience, drinking alcohol doesn’t make people more interesting, it just makes them more, well, drunk:confused:

 

[Snowflakes]

life is so complicated should we choose are own experience or someone elses

I believe we should always choose our own path along with looking at the information on the sign posts by others. We can choose to follow someone else’s adventure if it enhances ours or choose to ignore it. At the end of the day, we create our own experiences. Take care.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

should we choose are own experience or someone elses

If I was in your position I would choose your own experience and base your choices on your gut instincts and then make the choice. I wish you well:hug: