5 ms·

For Years, Alcohol Was My Only Comfort. Then It Nearly Killed Me

10 points by tapanjk 7y ago

linuxftw 7y ago
This place is becoming NYT spam house. Literally everyone already knows alcoholism is bad for you.
- addicted 7y ago
  In an increasingly contracting media enviroent, its not surprising that the majority of general news articles are coming from the likes of the NY times, Bloomberg and WSJ because they are doing the most original reporting. They are spending far more on original news reporting than many other outlets' combined.
  - SolaceQuantum 7y ago
    Genuine question: I hear a lot of concerns that NYTimes in particular is not original reporting and is often reporting to their own interests, a big example being the NYTimes covering positively the idea of war in iraq/afganistan and the trump-has-no-chance coverage. I don't agree with this sentiment; I just know this sentiment is not uncommon in my peer group. That is to say: Where are you gathering that they spend far more on original news reporting than other outlets? This is not an attack on you, nor a disagreement, but a genuine question as to what is your internal context to your statements- it is a context I'm lacking, as my social group is generally very cynical on the quality of NYTimes. (For the record, I like NYTimes, but the volume of cynicism in my peer group has caused me difficulty in my relationship with that specific publisher.)
  - stunt 7y ago
    But most HN users don't come here for general news. I think that's what he was trying to say.
    - linuxftw 7y ago
      Right. I've seen an increase in off-topic NYT articles making it to the front page over the last 18 months or so. They can peddle their social-opinion pieces elsewhere.
- wjossey 7y ago
  Hardly. As someone who lost two parents to alcoholism in the past five years, I can assure you that it is alive and well, and taking lives along the way. You never know when one of these stories may encourage your fellow reader to decide that today is a great day to get sober.
  - linuxftw 7y ago
    Not relevant to this site, IMO. You want to change the world, proactively speak out against alcohol to your family and friends, and continuously caution them against it's abuse. Hoping that a tiny fraction of people on the net read some news article is going to change their lives is a pipe dream.
sidewinder128 7y ago
Cannot read it, have to pay for it WTF.
wjossey 7y ago
Really powerful article, and speaks to the toll alcohol takes on lives over the course of decades. Whether it’s family separation, bodily injury, near death, destruction of trust.... It runs the gambit until it kills you. As I always say on threads regarding alcoholism. If you’re an alcoholic, today is a great day to get sober! There’s a meeting happening near you today! It’s never too late.
SolaceQuantum 7y ago
Reminder that according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate drinking is 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. Binge drinking is 4 or more drinks in a session for women, 5 for men. Heavy alcohol consumption is binge drinking for at least 5 days a month. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-co... If you have a problem, please reach out.
- zzzcpan 7y ago
  > Reminder that according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate drinking is 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. Sounds like the NIAAA is captured by alcohol drinks manufacturers.
- RandomInteger4 7y ago
  I used to drink 1 / day to relax thinking I was alright, because I followed the guidelines, but I saw the effects of drinking even just that little had on both my mental and physical health. It's the consistency that's no bueno; the quantity just determines the amplitude of the negative effects. Drinking alcohol daily in any quantity is just outright bad for anyone.
llamathrowaway 7y ago
I enjoy a good beer as much as the next guy, but I am still bothered by how alcohol is ingrained in our culture. Binge drinking seems to be regarded as an important part of social life, for example. Some UK-themed subreddits also have a tendency to celebrate sometimes irresponsible drinking, without considering the consequences. Another pet peeve of mine is how many people use 'buy you a beer' or similar expressions to mean 'meet you up'. You are aware that not everyone drinks, no?
RickJWagner 7y ago
I drank a lot in my earlier years. (To excess, really.) I honestly believe it made me more social. I stopped when my first son was born, 20 years ago. (I've since had half a glass of champagne.) I don't miss it a bit. I feel healthier, I saved a ton of money, and I've forgotten what a hangover feels like. I truly recommend abstinence. It's a good thing!

10 points by tapanjk 7y ago

linuxftw 7y ago

This place is becoming NYT spam house. Literally everyone already knows alcoholism is bad for you.

addicted 7y ago
In an increasingly contracting media enviroent, its not surprising that the majority of general news articles are coming from the likes of the NY times, Bloomberg and WSJ because they are doing the most original reporting. They are spending far more on original news reporting than many other outlets' combined.
- SolaceQuantum 7y ago
  Genuine question: I hear a lot of concerns that NYTimes in particular is not original reporting and is often reporting to their own interests, a big example being the NYTimes covering positively the idea of war in iraq/afganistan and the trump-has-no-chance coverage. I don't agree with this sentiment; I just know this sentiment is not uncommon in my peer group. That is to say: Where are you gathering that they spend far more on original news reporting than other outlets? This is not an attack on you, nor a disagreement, but a genuine question as to what is your internal context to your statements- it is a context I'm lacking, as my social group is generally very cynical on the quality of NYTimes. (For the record, I like NYTimes, but the volume of cynicism in my peer group has caused me difficulty in my relationship with that specific publisher.)
- stunt 7y ago
  But most HN users don't come here for general news. I think that's what he was trying to say.
  - linuxftw 7y ago
    Right. I've seen an increase in off-topic NYT articles making it to the front page over the last 18 months or so. They can peddle their social-opinion pieces elsewhere.
wjossey 7y ago
Hardly. As someone who lost two parents to alcoholism in the past five years, I can assure you that it is alive and well, and taking lives along the way. You never know when one of these stories may encourage your fellow reader to decide that today is a great day to get sober.
- linuxftw 7y ago
  Not relevant to this site, IMO. You want to change the world, proactively speak out against alcohol to your family and friends, and continuously caution them against it's abuse. Hoping that a tiny fraction of people on the net read some news article is going to change their lives is a pipe dream.

sidewinder128 7y ago

Cannot read it, have to pay for it WTF.

wjossey 7y ago

Really powerful article, and speaks to the toll alcohol takes on lives over the course of decades. Whether it’s family separation, bodily injury, near death, destruction of trust.... It runs the gambit until it kills you. As I always say on threads regarding alcoholism. If you’re an alcoholic, today is a great day to get sober! There’s a meeting happening near you today! It’s never too late.

SolaceQuantum 7y ago

Reminder that according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate drinking is 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. Binge drinking is 4 or more drinks in a session for women, 5 for men. Heavy alcohol consumption is binge drinking for at least 5 days a month. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/moderate-binge-drinking https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-co... If you have a problem, please reach out.

zzzcpan 7y ago
> Reminder that according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, moderate drinking is 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. Sounds like the NIAAA is captured by alcohol drinks manufacturers.
RandomInteger4 7y ago
I used to drink 1 / day to relax thinking I was alright, because I followed the guidelines, but I saw the effects of drinking even just that little had on both my mental and physical health. It's the consistency that's no bueno; the quantity just determines the amplitude of the negative effects. Drinking alcohol daily in any quantity is just outright bad for anyone.

llamathrowaway 7y ago

I enjoy a good beer as much as the next guy, but I am still bothered by how alcohol is ingrained in our culture. Binge drinking seems to be regarded as an important part of social life, for example. Some UK-themed subreddits also have a tendency to celebrate sometimes irresponsible drinking, without considering the consequences. Another pet peeve of mine is how many people use 'buy you a beer' or similar expressions to mean 'meet you up'. You are aware that not everyone drinks, no?

RickJWagner 7y ago

I drank a lot in my earlier years. (To excess, really.) I honestly believe it made me more social. I stopped when my first son was born, 20 years ago. (I've since had half a glass of champagne.) I don't miss it a bit. I feel healthier, I saved a ton of money, and I've forgotten what a hangover feels like. I truly recommend abstinence. It's a good thing!