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> and thinking is the most pleasurable thing in the world. That is definitely something to be grateful for. I too, enjoy thinking deeply, and abstain from Alco
by jcpst 4y ago
> and thinking is the most pleasurable thing in the world.
That is definitely something to be grateful for. I too, enjoy thinking deeply, and abstain from Alcohol when trying to solve problems.
But thinking can also be torture and sometimes I just want to drown out all the depression and anxiety. Alcohol is good for delaying that. Only problem is it’s a temporary fix, and the agony comes back stronger.
Alcohol is also good for dumbing yourself down to the same intellectual level as a social group.
The reason I’m working towards being a nondrinker is so I can confront my mental issues in a healthy way, and so my kids don’t see me destroy myself as they grow up.
- lo_zamoyski 4y agoYou seem to be describing a misuse of alcohol, if anything. It's not the case that you either drink excessively or abstain completely. Enjoying a drink, even to relax, is not principally a way of coping with mental illness. It is enjoyable. Indeed, a drink (not too much; I'm not talking about drunkenness) can actually make you better at thinking (Ballmer peak comes to mind; there are some studies that corroborate this I remember seeing). Perhaps this is the result of relaxation. Of course, if you find it adversely affecting you, then you owe it to yourself to abstain.
- jcpst 4y agoSure, good points. I don’t mean to portray it as binary. Back in my gigging days, we called it “the perfect buzz”. 1-2 drinks before performing worked well- but more than that did not. I only share so much because for some of us it’s a very slippery slope. I used to not be aware of _why_ I was drinking so much. I do really enjoy the taste of a craft beer, or a decent bourbon. The part I’m working on now is balance. I don’t want to get to where I _have_ to stop drinking.