Alcohol never solves anything for me. Just the last 7 years or so I realized that it helped me feel good in the moment I was drinking. The next day I wake up with the same life, problems, higher anxiety or deeper depression paranoia. Always wondering if I acted ok. Never got into any trouble, but always wondered if I sounded stupid blabbing and trying to fit in while out at the bar or club.

On another note, after realizing that drinking wasn't the good time that all those around me were having, I saw that some people that I considered "friends" were no longer interested in me if I didn't serve as a drinking buddy. After I stopped drinking, I could really see things for what they were better or worse and one thing of many that I did see was that ppl that I thought had their act together really did not.

Helen I hope you can avoid drinking especially every day and in the morning.
Like anything else, yeah moderation, but even for some just what seems moderate is just a waste of your time, brain cells, and money. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate a good wine, or volka.

Hope my rambling makes some sense.

Well, I'm not sure if it really is hereditary, but my biological father was a raging alcoholic, whereas I am not. I have gotten shit faced a few times, with no desire to continue drinking. However, I'm not entirely sure if I just don't drink often enough to really tell if I would be an alcoholic or not...

Actually that is my biggest fear associated with alcohol, that alcoholism is hereditary.

This is the second main reason why I don't drink. I didn't/don't want drinking buddies.

This post was last modified: 04-03-2008 05:50 AM by AngryLoner.

If your having a few drinks in the morning, I think that's quite a serious issue that needs addressing before it gets right out of hand. Be careful helen.

I've chosen not to drink. Ever. My grandfather was an alcoholic and my father is an alcoholic. I don't want to follow in their footstep. It's not worth it.

Tea and water ftw! (and maybe some orange juice ^^)

This post was last modified: 04-03-2008 09:01 AM by Jeremi.

and pop

Ever had a version of Spiced Tea?
I use ground cloves steeping with the hot tea for a while, combined with pineapple juice and of course sugar.

tea
water
milk (usually with cereal, sometimes chocolate with some pancakes or waffles)
all kinds of juices
occasionally a pop (love orange cream soda and root beer the most)

I don't do alcohol, although I could do it lightly on one night out of hundreds with the right woman just for fun.

This post was last modified: 04-03-2008 12:10 PM by jjam.

It always amazers me how many ppl in the world don't drink. I do seriously think that if I was not from the UK that I would probably have a better social network then I do. Everybody I know dose not socialise in less its in a pub. Well, that's not true there is one or two ppl I know but there much older then me. Its like if your a young mail and you don't wont to be out every Friday and saturday night (and day for some) that there is something wrong with you. Most of the friends I have do not think they have had a good night in less they have done one of three things. 1, Got in a fight 2, Been sick 3, Got a shag. And yes most of my mates have had an STD at some point in there life. Well, there not mates BTW there just ppl I go out with when I really need to get out of the house. Non of them would put them self out for me but if I wonted to be out every night of the week drinking I could be. I should move country cos the colcher over here stinks.

I know what you mean... alcohol can make you feel more confident in yourself... I've been told before that I "drink far too much as a way to mask my insecurities"

I think most people know there limits though and as long as you stick to them it's fine...

i know you're right and i'm quite ashamed of it. but i'll admit that sometimes, since i know that there's no-one who's going to say anything whatever state i get in, it's easy to give in to temptation. the drink makes me forget about my shyness for a while. it's not ideal but i guess you do whatever you need to to cope sometimes.

i agree with bluey that drinking is an ingrained part of the culture here in britain. most people do their socialising in the pub. again, i suppose it's not exactly perfect...

Alcohol is just plain evil to me. I've always had problems with emotions and being very depressed but alcohol has only made things worse for me (especially jagermeister) and every time I thought about the times I even had a casual drink, sure there are those high moments but they quickly slump at the end of a given night.