re: For Anyone Contemplating Quitting Drinking

I’ve honestly never understood the concept of drinking or doing drugs. Glad I’ve never gone down that path.

With that said, this post looks more like someone that just figured out how to use AI.

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just switched to edibles. That helps

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Until you can't get them then you freak out because your mind is telling you that you have to have them to feel normal. But they aren't addictive? Right. Sure they aren't

have a downvote young man

Well said. You covered just about everything. You also find out who your true friends are. I quit on 12/31/98 to get healthy. I had just turned 38. Self preservation is crucial. Especially after 40.

I'm almost two weeks sober. Just started going to AA. Hoping to make it as long as you have one day.

It’s definitely one less thing to worry about if you don’t drink. I periodically quit for weeks at a time, because I’ll also drink for two weeks straight. When I do quit, I’m definitely more productive. But after about a month that gets old and it’s time to go back to the Lords beer.

thats too my much

Look - I can say without a shadow of a doubt, reducing your alcohol intake is absolutely a good thing. If you are on of the 10% of alcohol drinkers that become an alcoholic, quitting is also an amazing thing.

WITH THAT SAID:

One of the worst side effects is the loss of human interaction that comes with drinking.

If you were a guy who had a few beers when you got home to take the edge off, well, that’s no bueno. That’s a cope. No other way around it.

However, the reason Europeans can maintain a quality, long life whilst drinking is that they (mostly) tie alcohol to social activities. The Italians take 2 hour lunches over a bottle of wine to connect and gab. The English football pub culture, a pint or two with you and your “mates” is truly a special experience.

After some self discovery on the alcohol front, I’ve come to realize America has a binge-drinking problem. I went to college in the early 2010s and drinking was about putting up fricking NUMBERS. 10+ beers a night, 3 nights straight, par for the course.

Being able to grab an after-work beer, being able to enjoy 3-4 cold ones at a tailgate before a football game (OK, maybe 6 in a day is more realistic for a 12 hour SEC experience with your head on straight), have a nice cocktail or two at an upscale hotel bar… that’s the joy in drinking.

Drinking should be a social enhancer. Full stop.

I noticed in my spurts where I’d go cold turkey, that what bothered me the most was being unable to participate in the centuries vetted experience of using alcohol as an additive; something to enhance life and form connections with others.

How I met my wife, how I met my best friends, how I experienced some of the greatest highs in my entire life - alcohol was involved. The only difference was, it was just involved… it wasn’t the star of the show.

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Fewer emotional highs

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And I’m out.