What are the messages that other drinkers give to us? That it’s fun. That not drinking is boring. That it has no adverse effect on them, and if they do occasionally drink too much and have a hangover, it’s something to laugh about. That ‘normal’ drinking is possible, that they can take it or leave it. But why?
The drinkers themselves have a vested interest in promoting this benign image of drinking and alcohol. There is a drug that they take on certain occasions, and if they can’t have it, they find that they don’t fully enjoy themselves. They have to have it. So they try to paint it in the best possible light. It’s all about perspective, and putting a spin on something to sweeten the pill.
If I ask a room full of people who thinks a night out with friends is more fun if you have a few drinks, virtually the whole room will put their hands up.
If I ask a room full of people to put up their hands if they are psychologically (if not physically) dependant on a drug, to such an extent that they are no longer able to fully enjoy or cope with certain aspects of their life without it, there’ll be no hands going up (or maybe just one or two very honest people).
But the more discerning amongst you will have noticed that this is exactly the same question, just worded differently. Saying that a night out with friends is more fun if you have a few drinks, is the same as saying you can’t fully enjoy a night out with friends without alcohol.
The image being projected by other drinkers will feed into FAB and Ambition, and will, over time, wear down your resolve.
Again sticking with the reality is key; keep in mind the numerous significant gains you accrue when you stop drinking, and remember the reality of being a drinker.
Think of these physiological facts that impact ALL drinkers:
- Alcohol, even in small doses, interrupts our natural sleeping pattern, with the result that every drinker feels tired and washed out the next day.
- Alcohol raises blood pressure and heart rate, triggering the bodies natural ‘rest mechanism’ which it does to try to bring both blood pressure and heart rate down. So drinkers always feel more lethargic and heavy then they otherwise would.
- Every alcoholic drink produces a feeling of sedation, followed by a corresponding feeling of anxiety as the brain recalibrates to work under the sedating effects of the alcohol.
3 responses
This is so true. What I also tell myself (not sure if it is totally true or not but it is definitely true in my mind which is all that matters to me) “Everyone who drinks on a regular basis is probably a little bit addicted because it’s an addictive substance and all humans (not just certain humans) can become addicted.” This throws the “alcoholic” term out of my vocabulary because it’s the substance that causes the addiction, not the person. Again, just my own personal thoughts and philosophy that I live by. Approaching 2 years alcohol free and never going back! Thanks for your posts, William. All great reminders.
“Other drinkers” could be extended to those companies which have a huge vested interest in selling us on this connection between drinking and enjoyment — and spend billions to make sure we are constantly reminded of this.
I stopped drinking 2 weeks ago and the difference to my general levels of tiredness and quality of sleep have been much enhanced.