My problem with drink

@imaginativeWest3273

So you have others telling you that you drink too much and you are thinking about how much you are drinking. 

When in the middle of drinking ...... we do not see that the  feeling we get is NOT fixing anything in our life just avoiding issues and adding to it by adding alcohol issues.  Quitting or even cutting down on drinking often requires dealing with issues we are putting off and IMO that is what most people do not want to do even if they are aware of the issue they are building with alcohol use. 

@imaginativeWest3273

In response to...  My Problem With Drink...

It is very difficult when you are dealing with problems that are mental health related, such as depression and (from what you've written), you're dealing with some considerable issues in your life.

Alcoholic drinks are addictive in their own right and there's no need for any explanation because we all know that when you have one drink, it quickly becomes another and another because it's a pleasurable experience.

Until the next day of course when we have the 'hangover' experience and also any regrets about the things we've said and done...

For many people, it's about blocking out our  troubles and in order to keep doing so,  we need to drink more.

Of course, as soon as you become sober again, you are reminded of the problems you tried to hide from and they seem to appear even worse.  This encourages you to feel even more depressed.

Although your post is only a few sentences long, it seriously highlights the massive problem facing many of us in society today and the issues of trying to get some serious help to overcome these problems.

If the brutal truth be known, behind the scenes of so many homes in our neighbourhoods, there are so many people turning to alcohol as a source of comfort in these very challenging times.

From the outside to many of us just passing by, there seems very little to suggest anything untoward with regards to excessive alcohol consumption and it's effects on so many lives.

However.  Take a combination of two sets of circumstances.  The alcohol and the issues effecting so many people who are fighting the ongoing struggle with their mental health.

Take the availability of alcohol in recent years.  

Since before the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospitality trade which included all pubs, social clubs, bars and nightclubs was already suffering as people stayed at home to drink.

The availability,  reasonable pricing, quantity and variety of such delicious flavours that appeal to the ever growing population of perpetual 'adult children'.

All this combined with the privacy and comfort of home.  No time restrictions nor refusal of service and the constant temptation for more...

It seems over the past few years, there has been discouragement for businesses to sell alcohol in it's many forms to the public...  The pubs, clubs and bars fighting for their survival.

Yet the alcohol is more abundantly available than ever before and anyone fighting an alcohol addiction are struggling more and more to fight it.

Looking for answers in life is very hard...

There are times when we need to seek the questions.

What is happening?  Why is there so much alcohol to tempt those struggling like yourself who want to fight it?

How do you get help to fight this?

It's easy for people to blame the 'alcoholics' for their misfortune and put it down to their lack of 'will power'.  

However.  It's more than that...

It's getting everyone to understand by drilling it in that alcoholic drinks are very big business and create big financial profits.

There are many pubs, clubs, nightclubs and bars struggling to survive the hostile commercial landscape.

Yet that doesn't stop the flow of alcohol getting into our lives.

The corporate vultures have always been well organised when it comes to the producing and selling of alcoholic drinks.

A carefully curated mixture which has involved the governments (wherever you live in the world) and the skilful manipulation of the media have been blended together to push the alcohol to the people.

The corporate vultures enlist their golden political representatives of the people to cleverly work their magic and create laws, taxes and further regulation upon the long suffering pub industry.

As the pubs close...  The buildings and land are re-claimed for development.

The media creates conflict.  One story shows revellers drunk in the streets.  Another story tells us that young people don' t drink alcohol any more.  

The truth behind the scenes...  Many people are fighting a battle with the addiction.

When Covid-19 caused the lockdowns, the governments re-branded the supermarkets as our 'saviours' and they supplied even more alcohol in those dark, depressing times.

The alcohol was still available, but the much needed help was limited.

Everybody has their own, personal life story when it comes to dealing with alcohol addiction and there seems to be so many people like yourself who are drinking as a way to cope with the struggles of life.

The alcohol can bring upon us, a certain inner peace and happiness.

Life's problems seem a distant memory...  If only for a short while.

Until the reality of life's problems come back into view.

It's understandable to feel hate towards yourself because you don't always know who or what to blame.

Depression and mental health problems are a very deep mystery because nobody really understands the true depths of our minds.

Ideally.  Counselling/therapy will be of help, with a focus on your drinking issues to help address the underlying life issues that contribute to your drinking.

Research into any local help/advice organisations or group meetings to help yourself deal with your alcohol journey.

You feel that you hate yourself....  Let's be honest.  We live in a society that encourages self-hate.  

It's important to understand the growing addiction to alcoholic drinks is not all your fault.

Addictions are encouraged because they generate generate vast amounts of money.

People are sub-consciously lead to believe (through clever manipulation) to assume addiction is all self-inflicted.  

Many of us can't understand the effects of alcohol on peoples lives, their loved ones and families.  Costing them their jobs, homes and even their lives.

Media manipulation focusing on bars and streets being overwhelmed by drunken youths give the people a direct focus on where the alcohol problem lies.

Followed on by media reports of positive surveys telling everyone how the modern young prefer a 'soft' drink.

Readers and viewers quickly become dismissive of the true reality.

Alcohol addiction is a silent and hidden tragedy of our society.

What help is available?  

As the availability of alcohol becomes easier...  The help to deal with the addiction becomes harder to access.

As one crisis grows....  Then so does another.

The ever growing struggle to get help for mental health problems could even fuel any kind of addiction.

The source of any addiction is available immediately.  Access to the help isn't.

Voluntary or charitable services face the higher and higher financial costs to stay afloat whilst the corporate vultures circle above.

The voluntary and charitable services fight hard to help those poor souls who genuinely need ongoing professional treatment.

The volunteer services are not able to do this.

The public health and welfare services - wherever you live - are being overwhelmed by what is believed to be government failure.

Yet failure can hide success....

Those in need of professional help can have a time limited assessment, consultation and wait their turn for a place to get counselling/therapy.

Otherwise.  They must bear the costs of treatment themselves and many just can't afford to do so.

You're having a hard time....

Addiction is so much more than addiction...  It's more than just being addicted.

Life's forever getting more stressful, complicated and so many poor souls are facing this constant, ongoing force of attrition.

Hopefully.  You'll find a way to get the help you need to overcome your struggles and take care of yourself.

Paul.....