My husband and I both quit alcohol when he had a stroke Oct. 6th, 2022. Previous to that we had drank every day for “happy hour” for most of the past 20 years. We would stop for 2 or 3 months at a time every couple of years while doing different cleanses or detoxes and never felt compelled to drink, thus never believed we were addicted to it.
Conversely, years ago when I was married to my first husband, I never drank but watched beer turn him into a drunk. He would stay out half the night and even drink in the morning before work. So, I have seen both sides of this issue.
I do think some people are weak willed and become addicted to many things, not just alcohol. I give a lot of credit to those who can change their behaviors and habits with or without additional help.
It wasn't until I stopped drinking that I realized how much I drank. Mine stemmed from a broken relationship with my mother, and also my wanting to be an extrovert when I'm in fact an introvert (alcohol made me "fun" and chatty). I was not a daily drinker and not an alcoholic, but I would binge drink when I drank. I lacked an off switch. I was certainly a "problem" drinker. My mother and I repaired our relationship about 7 years ago. After that, I suddenly lost the urge to obliterate myself. I finally felt balanced, which allowed me to embrace my true introverted nature and my true self. I don't miss drinking. I certainly don't miss being embarrassed the next day over the things I said or did. I still carry shame from some of those things. I have a drink or two maybe once a year now, and it's fine, but my regular bar nights are a thing of the past. I try not to think about how much time and money was wasted on that habit. It did not serve me. I'm just grateful I corrected it before it became a bigger problem. Life is better without it, for sure!
My husband and I both quit alcohol when he had a stroke Oct. 6th, 2022. Previous to that we had drank every day for “happy hour” for most of the past 20 years. We would stop for 2 or 3 months at a time every couple of years while doing different cleanses or detoxes and never felt compelled to drink, thus never believed we were addicted to it.
Conversely, years ago when I was married to my first husband, I never drank but watched beer turn him into a drunk. He would stay out half the night and even drink in the morning before work. So, I have seen both sides of this issue.
I do think some people are weak willed and become addicted to many things, not just alcohol. I give a lot of credit to those who can change their behaviors and habits with or without additional help.
It wasn't until I stopped drinking that I realized how much I drank. Mine stemmed from a broken relationship with my mother, and also my wanting to be an extrovert when I'm in fact an introvert (alcohol made me "fun" and chatty). I was not a daily drinker and not an alcoholic, but I would binge drink when I drank. I lacked an off switch. I was certainly a "problem" drinker. My mother and I repaired our relationship about 7 years ago. After that, I suddenly lost the urge to obliterate myself. I finally felt balanced, which allowed me to embrace my true introverted nature and my true self. I don't miss drinking. I certainly don't miss being embarrassed the next day over the things I said or did. I still carry shame from some of those things. I have a drink or two maybe once a year now, and it's fine, but my regular bar nights are a thing of the past. I try not to think about how much time and money was wasted on that habit. It did not serve me. I'm just grateful I corrected it before it became a bigger problem. Life is better without it, for sure!