Are We Drinking Too Much?
I am truly one of the most fortunate psychologists on Long Island. The individuals I work with are highly intelligent, highly functional and hard working people who are committed to changing their lives and being more present in the world. They are the people striving to make things happen and make a difference in this life. They are also the people having an ongoing debate about something I personally and professionally hold to be true:
People are absolutely, without a doubt, drinking too much!
At the moment, alcohol is the one unregulated, accepted drug in our society. And, in my professional experience, it is being regularly abused. But because drinking is so socially acceptable, dare I say expected, and because highly functional movers and shakers are doing it, almost no one is questioning it. Those who do question it might actually make themselves feel better about what they’re doing by observing that “well, everyone’s doing it!”
Those who question it and resist the pressure to drink might actually find themselves excluded from social events because their behavior points out the alcohol abuse of those around them. That can be a difficult and lonely place to be as well…
Now, this is not to suggest that a completely alcohol free existence is the answer for everyone. However, if you aren’t having fun wherever you are without being drunk, then it’s not truly fun!
So the question becomes, why are people drinking too much? Well, a fully sober person in a room full of inebriated party goers might have some insight. That person might observe or talk about the false sense of confidence and fun going on all around them. Some people would be slurring their words, others would be overly affectionate, and still others caught up in the music and the high. But none of it is real. And the reality is, this way of “having fun” really gets in the way of being truly physically and emotionally healthy. As human beings we need to be able to access our feelings, care for our physical bodies, and truly experience life around us.
It is my hope that, as you read, some of your are giving your drinking habits, and the reasons for them, a second thought. It is also my hope that some of you seriously consider having fun without alcohol. I suspect that you will have a truly great time!
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