I gave up drinking alcohol on 29th February this year. It had nothing to do with it being a leap year, and without really knowing it I'd been massively cutting down for a while - if not, trying to give up entirely without actually acknowledging it. This isn't a post telling people what to do, because I seem to have a problem with people being told what to do and that's something I'd never do.
Anyway, all I really wanted to share was the benefits I've seen and experienced as I really didn't expect anything to come from this. I've come to realise that emotions are somewhat repressed when it comes to alcohol - we drink when we're happy, we drink when we're sad, we drink to celebrate, we drink to commiserate, we drink to forget, we drink to cope. However, when we drink it makes us not fully experience the emotions we're feeling and we turn to alcohol whenever we begin to feel these emotions.
Since giving up I've become a lot more focused, I've started making art again which for the past four years I haven't drawn anything. I've begun eating much better and looking after my body. I feel a hell of a lot less stress, I'm not angry or anxious, I feel a lot more positive, I can think with clarity, and process my feelings, and I genuinely feel happy. I'm not saying it's solved everything, but it's solved a lot - enough for me to notice a difference.
I wasn't an alcoholic, but it was something I didn't have control over. I've experienced the damage alcohol can cause, and can still see how problematic it is and can be for people. When I reflect on my upbringing I can see where alcoholism can lead, and seeing those same traits in myself makes me wonder. When I drank it was a case of not drinking at all, or drinking a ridiculous amount - there was no inbetween or compromise. I also know if I began drinking because of what is going on in the world, I wouldn't stop.
Ways of coping without alcohol that help me are making art, talking, reading, listening to music, cooking, watching films or a series, learning, walking, excercise, thinking, and writing. Now I know a lot of people can drink in moderation and responsibly and that is brilliant, but if you can't I'd just like you to know there is help, things to do, alternatives, resources, and people to talk to.
As a means of coping and a bit of an aside, I have found when it comes to social media and the news the most benefitial thing you can possibly do for yourself is, as soon as you feel a negative emotion (anger, sadness, frustration, low self-worth, etc.) is immediately stop what you're reading, or watching. The news and social media can be a horrible trigger and being aware of your own limitations as a human being and knowing what is worth worrying about can really work wonders.
Anyway, all I really wanted to share was the benefits I've seen and experienced as I really didn't expect anything to come from this. I've come to realise that emotions are somewhat repressed when it comes to alcohol - we drink when we're happy, we drink when we're sad, we drink to celebrate, we drink to commiserate, we drink to forget, we drink to cope. However, when we drink it makes us not fully experience the emotions we're feeling and we turn to alcohol whenever we begin to feel these emotions.
Since giving up I've become a lot more focused, I've started making art again which for the past four years I haven't drawn anything. I've begun eating much better and looking after my body. I feel a hell of a lot less stress, I'm not angry or anxious, I feel a lot more positive, I can think with clarity, and process my feelings, and I genuinely feel happy. I'm not saying it's solved everything, but it's solved a lot - enough for me to notice a difference.
I wasn't an alcoholic, but it was something I didn't have control over. I've experienced the damage alcohol can cause, and can still see how problematic it is and can be for people. When I reflect on my upbringing I can see where alcoholism can lead, and seeing those same traits in myself makes me wonder. When I drank it was a case of not drinking at all, or drinking a ridiculous amount - there was no inbetween or compromise. I also know if I began drinking because of what is going on in the world, I wouldn't stop.
Ways of coping without alcohol that help me are making art, talking, reading, listening to music, cooking, watching films or a series, learning, walking, excercise, thinking, and writing. Now I know a lot of people can drink in moderation and responsibly and that is brilliant, but if you can't I'd just like you to know there is help, things to do, alternatives, resources, and people to talk to.
As a means of coping and a bit of an aside, I have found when it comes to social media and the news the most benefitial thing you can possibly do for yourself is, as soon as you feel a negative emotion (anger, sadness, frustration, low self-worth, etc.) is immediately stop what you're reading, or watching. The news and social media can be a horrible trigger and being aware of your own limitations as a human being and knowing what is worth worrying about can really work wonders.
