Answering the question Why aren't you drinking?

[Jampacked]

I was listening to a podcast by a lady who had addictions to drugs and alcohol. She has evolved into a life coach and nutritionist. She says she has learnt so much about the effects of alcohol on the body. When asked why she didn't drink she said ( I paraphrase) she wanted to avoid inflammation of the neuroimmunoendocrine pathways in her body. As an arthritis and asthma sufferer I loved this response. Alcohol does cause inflammation in our joints lungs, brain, liver etc. It underlined to me how important it is to accept that not drinking is not abnormal its a sensible response to the effects that alcohol has on the body. And let's face it if that response doesn't deflect questions about alcoholism nothing will. Have a fabulously sober weekend friends.

[Jimbo92]

It’s interesting. My partner is like me, she can go all week and not drink. She might have a few on the weekend. However she refuses to admit it has adverse effects on our functions or body. I’ve done a month without it and I can safely say you can tell the difference. No bloating, no getting up feeling like you’ve not slept in years, determination to do things like the gym and my classes. The list goes on and on. It’s strange how the majority of drinkers try to ignore its negative effects and persist that they feel “alright”

[SoberDrunk1]

Toward the end of my drinking career back around 2005, I kind of realized that I was lying to myself that I was drinking beer only. That is because, the friday only beers, turn into weekend (also beers) and eventually old ways of drinking daily. I couldn't dare to see the look on my wifes face when she would come back from work. To top it all, I was drinking those high gravity beers almost 11% alcohol content (Those were introduced in Georgia around that time). Dont know if you have them in your country, i am sure each country has its own. So alcoholic drinking was the normal life. At that time I had that moment of clarity that I needed help because I would wake up the next day and repeat the same thing. First I reached out for group therapy and the therapist was kind enough to point me to another shrink who happened to be an alcoholic himself (he didn't reveal that though, I saw him in the rooms of AA after 5 years), he suggested that I seek a spiritual solution. I didn't know what it meant then. But slowly but surely when the fog got lifted and with some strong guidance I was able to understand the content of the big book (AA). I could see the vicious cycle of alcoholism. The realization came that if I dont change, I will be stuck in that ever ending loop like the old broken gramaphone records. I started to apply the principles behind AAs 12 steps. Simply to watch for my selfishness and self-centered attitude and behavior. I also realized alcohol was just a symptom and that my constant craving for self-gratification was the root cause.