Another study on the benefits of regular alcohol consumption.
That’s the double-edged sword with drugs like alcohol. Consumed in moderation and even occasional overindulgence, it has many quite powerful health benefits and even, arguably, some positive psychological benefits. But a certain segment of the population is physically disposed toward tripping into a chemical dependency on the substance which is massively destructive both to them and those around them. Indeed, that double-edged sword is what trips up so many alcoholics: we think we have a handle on it, we see other people around us who have a handle on it, and we can find ways to rationalize our actions even as we slip closer and closer to the abyss. It’s one of the things that makes treatment so difficult: the alcoholic must come to see that it really isn’t life that’s destroying him and making him drink, it’s that the drinking is destroying his life. That’s why getting people into treatment is so difficult. (And if your life really does suck even without drinking, it’s harder still, because despair sets in and interferes with any recovery effort–although as the saying goes, there’s no problem for the alcoholic that a drink can’t make worse.)
The “they could stop if they really wanted to, they’re just weak and self-indulgent” folks don’t do much to help either.
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The good news is, there are many other ways besides alcohol to increase heart and joint health. So don’t be ashamed to tee-total. I’m not.
Straightedge is hip right now. :)
Yeah, now I just have to stop smoking again. I started again a few weeks ago because I was upset and it seemed a better crutch than a bottle of whisky, but really, I frickin’ hate smoking. %-)
willow
For recovering alcoholics like Dean & me, there is no such thing as "tee-total." There’s just total.
However if you aren’t one of us go right ahead.
Dean
Don’t lay off the smokes just yet. Get some sobriety under your belt first.
Enh. Actually I quit smoking in early January. Then a couple of weeks ago I had to sign my divorce settlement, and was an emotional wreck. A pack of cigarettes and a pot of coffee and an intense few sessions of Halo 3 seemed like a better response than a fifth of Canadian whisky and some beer. But honestly I don’t really much LIKE smoking. The morning cigarettes are kind of nice, but by the end of the day my throat and chest hurts and I’m out of breath.
When I have a little more money I’ll get some nicotine gum and within a week I’ll be off the smokes again.
Yerba mate. The froofy South American tea. I swear by it. It’s got caffeine, minerals and mood stabilizers, and making it is a bit of a ritual (you dampen the tea in cold water, let it sit 2 min, then add hot water), so it can replace the ritual of lighting a cigarette or mixing a drink.
It’s all about replacing old habits with new habits. :) If you pick this one up you will be one step closer to becoming a limp-wristed broccoli-eating leftist, and our stratagem of world domination will be complete…
World domination.
Woohoo!
I like vegans. They’re tasty.
Money for nic gum should be there now.Â
I feel your pain.
Oh man, thanks.
Blogging for tips rules!
 I can’t imagine how alcohol could help other diseases.
You know, a few days ago I said something so stupid about there being remedies for an alcoholic. There is no cure period. I was thinking of groups to help us knowing we are not in the disease alone. Sometimes living and thinking of, "Just one day at a time" is hard to do so you have to take it an hour at a time and pick up the telephone and talk to someone that is trying to recover from their addiction.
I am like you and do not like smoke at all and remembeer when I did smoke how that first cigarette helped. Now the cost of a pack is expensive. Well, maybe it was always expensive.
Call me anytime Dean. You owe me a call ;-)
Dean,
Is your posted paypal link still good for you?
Yes it should be, although it’s not my preferred email address for correspondence. Thanks so much.
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