‘Tis The Season
Beth on 20 Dec 2009
This time of year, lots of people over indulge in alcohol. As the saying goes, “‘Tis the season!” My answer is Yes, and no. It is certainly culturally acceptable to indulge and over indulge in alcohol at the Christmas and New’s Year’s holidays. Perfectly up standing and sober people suddenly let loose and get falling-down-drunk. I remember my parents’ new Year’s Eve parties and seeing my parents and my friends’ parents get silly and weird (as it seemed to my eyes.) I’m actually really lucky — my parents were of the let loose once a year sort of drinkers, so I did not grow up in a house filled with alcohol abuse. I had to learn that on my own.
I don’t want to come off as a kill-joy. I do think that many people (maybe even most people) can enjoy alcohol without becoming addicted. It’s such an easy drug to obtain and it can open the door to other drugs. So it is worth taking a look inside and asking yourself why you’re having a drink. Is it because you’re out with friends and a beer tastes great after a long day? Or is it because you feel awkward in social situations and the beer (or three) will help you lighten up? it’s not an easy question to ask, much less answer. But I am here to tell you that asking the question now, before you set a pattern of drinking, will save you years of wasted days and nights.
Alcohol is one of the more insidious drugs, at least in my opinion, because it is so easy to obtain and so acceptable to use — and, yes, abuse. It can take years for friends and family to realize that you’ve got a drinking problem. That’s years of you abusing and them not seeing/ignoring/enabling. It’s not their job to keep you from drinking; that’s your job. But if they don’t get what they are seeing, what’s happening in front of their very noses, that just makes the problem persist longer than it should.
So, before you decide to indulge in some holiday cheer, really ask yourself: Why am I drinking? What do I want to achieve from this glass? If you have the will to ask it, the answer might surprise you.
Peace.