alcohol
All about the effects of alcohol on the mind and body, and what a drinker should expect from a sip, or ten, of the hard stuff.
What Six Months of Sobriety Has Taught Me
Six months ago, I didn’t know how this was going to go. I didn’t know if I’d quit for a week, a month, two months, the classic one hundred days, or more. Here I am today, six months after I chose to take a break from drinking, which was how I thought about it at the time. Taking a break— something that is temporary. I didn’t know how long this would last, and I still don’t. I do, however, know that six months is longer than I originally predicted I’d be able to go. As someone that had spent the past five years or so drinking regularly, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stick with the sober lifestyle. What would Saturday nights be like if I wasn’t going to my favorite bar and relaxing with a few PBRs? What would I order to drink at nice dinners when the wine list was off limits? What would special occasions be like minus the White Russian or Long Island Iced Tea? And speaking of special occasions, over the past six months, I’ve had several come up that I’ve spent sober for the first time in years. I’ve attended two open bar weddings since going sober, including my own sister’s. On top of that, there’s been Thanksgiving, Christmas; New Years was especially hard. St. Patrick’s Day. In just a few weeks, my birthday. All of that being said, there are things that I’ve learned over the past six months—some of which I expected, some I didn’t. Here are a few.
By Elizabeth Brandon8 years ago in Proof
9 Best Boozy Ice Cream Recipes
You shouldn’t have to justify bringing boozy ice cream into your life, but if you do, think about life as an adult. You can spend your hard-earned money on cool stuff like new frying pans and toilet paper. You can choose to stay up late, but crawl into bed no later than 10 PM, anyway. You can make spreadsheets to budget your bills and schedule your own dentist appointments. And you can buy alcohol—all kinds of alcohol.
By Jovelle Avancena8 years ago in Proof
Functioning Alcoholic
Just sitting on the back porch, sipping cheap whiskey mixed with canned blackberries. And I mean cheap whiskey, 1.75 liters cost like $17.50. And that's after tax. The two before were whiskey and Dr. Pepper. I ran out. But I ain't gonna sip just cheap whiskey. That's what alcoholics do. I'm not.
By Casey Hiatus8 years ago in Proof
10 Scientific Studies That Prove Drinking Can Be Healthy
"To alcohol: the cause and solution to all of life's problems!" When Homer Simpson made that toast he couldn't have possibly known about all the scientific studies that prove drinking can be healthy. If he just maintains a moderate consumption of alcohol, Homer will be less likely to get diabetes, have germs in his mouth, and will have better bones. And you can reap the same protective effects while also warding off a health risk like cardiovascular disease. Bottoms up!
By Erik Pasquale8 years ago in Proof
Looking Back on January
To kick off my 2018 I decided to do a dry January. This seems to be increasingly popular as I quickly learned that two of my close and heavy drinking friends decided to partake as well. I have gone dry before so not drinking for one month was a breeze.
By Little Caviar8 years ago in Proof
My Alcoholism Prevented Me From Getting Advanced Degrees
When I was busy drinking on half-baked meds and wasting my time in other ways, I didn’t think about how this would impact my desire to get advanced degrees. I knew in my twenties that I wanted to become a lawyer and get a psychology Ph.D. But in my thirties, my desire to study medicine came out with help from a friend of mine who pointed out I wanted to become a prescribing psychiatrist in addition. This desire got tacked on to my other desires. I have no idea how the psychiatrist thing popped into my head but it did. Then I discovered I just plain wanted to help people with my disability. I would like a joint MBA with my law degree and also, I want a Masters in psychology, an M.S. specifically.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Proof
How I Recognized I'm an Alcoholic
I was flirting with functional alcoholism from the age of 18 when I graduated high school. My family imposes their problems with alcohol on each other, with nobody really recognizing their problem. I was drinking port in my twenties. Somehow I could make it home at night without anybody noticing. I’m 36 now, and I have maintained my sobriety from 2010 until now. This is 8 years of sobriety. I get antsy in bars. I recognized my alcoholism for years but I kept it going as my own best enabler. The ex and I were drinking buddies.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in Proof
I Don't Remember, I Was Drunk
Weak ass excuses like this shouldn't work on anyone, but for some reason they do — not on me, but most people. That's not your get-out-of-jail free card for being stupid just because you were drinking. You were still an idiot sober. All alcohol does is intensify the person you really are. If you're angry, when you're drunk you are horrible to be around. You become even angrier at dumb stuff. If you're a pervert, you get drunk and become even more disgusting and weird. And if you are sad because you just got your heart broken... stay home and get drunk. Don't come around me with that. A drunk crier is the worst to deal with.
By Ian Massengale8 years ago in Proof
Alcoholism & My Child
I am the wife of an alcoholic and would like to share my experience of what I have learned in the process of becoming lost in the vortex of his disease. I wish to share how this has affected our daughter and what I did to change what I could, whilst letting go of what I could not.
By Laurie Summerfield8 years ago in Proof
