SoberBike

Good post Mirage! Lately I have been wondering why us humans drink/drank in the first place. How many people do you honestly know that have a few drinks just for the taste? I think most everyone that drinks likes the effect even if it's just a small buzz or a feeling of release. I always hated when we went out for dinner, a few drinks, then a movie. This would mean an interruption from my buzz or from me getting drunk. I would never be able to moderate my drinking...ever.

tornrealization

Never have tried to moderate. Not interested in moderating. Didn't even know what moderation was the first time I drank - and was drunk the first time too. I was almost 21. No 2-3 drinks for a few years for me, - downing straight vodka within a month.

I used to be jealous of 'normal' drinkers - but the more time goes on I wonder what the point of 1 or 2 is for even 'normal' drinkers. Really? What's the point of a 1-2 hour relaxation period? I don't judge them though.

Oh well. It is and always will be ALL or nothing for me. I'm still working on the NOTHING part.

Croissant

I didn't drink regularly until I was around 32. Before then, 1 on Christmas day. And very occasionally, a Midori and lemonade when out...for the taste....in fact, I drank even that slowly because I hated the buzz. Hated it.

My story is a little different on how I became an alcoholic, so I have very clear memories of what a normal life without alcohol looks like and how I approached drinking. It really didn't hold any appeal.

mirage

Sure, I wanted to moderate..but my idea of moderation was getting drunk less often. Ahhh...if only I could moderate my drunkenness so that it only happened once or twice a week. lol THAT'S some healthy thinking right there. ~shaking head~

Rar

I was thinking about this. We weren't always alcoholics and in those days, I think we consciously moderated. For example, "I have to work tomorrow. I have to drive home, etc. it wasn't a big deal. We had reasons to cut it off and we did successfully.

tornrealization

I was always an alcoholic.

Day I was born.

I tried to avoid it by avoiding and demonizing booze in my earlier years including highschool. I failed. Even my parents instructed me to ease up on my opinions to be more socially accepted by trying drinks.

Addiction sucks.

hardhearts

Nope. The idea of moderation scares me because I know I could do it (out of stubbornness and pride) until I... don't want to anymore. And I don't know when I'd cross that threshold but I do know I would. I wasn't out as long as many people but for years I'd only take shots, I claimed nobody's got time to wait for beer or mixed drinks to work. A nice buzz was never the goal. Shoulda been clue #1...

EternalNow

I drank for the effect, the buzz to feel good. It stopped working. The amount I had to consume would make me sick before I got "THERE".

But I still have to get there, to be happy, so I search for other, natural, ways to feel good and satisfied.

Mountainmanbob

I wanted to moderate but I was never good at it
MM

MythOfSisyphus

I never had any interest in moderation. I was always looking for a "cheat code" to drink all I could while avoiding the negative consequences.

caboblanco

not really i wanted to get buzzed...and to keep that buzz as long as i could...to get buzzed from 2 drinks was out the window after a week of 24 beers a day

Gottalife

No, I just wanted to enjoy drinking like I did at the start, without all the problems. I only ever wanted to have a good time.

Django

What is moderation then..?

caboblanco

I'm pretty sure moderation is never getting drunk..having maybe 1-3 drinks per sitting

Django

I'm looking at addiction in a different way to be honest.Im just recovering from a slight fracture in my leg and I'm able to exercise again,now I've started I can't get enough of it,and now I'm watching what I eat and things have switched to becoming addicted to a healthy lifestyle.

I'm not going to fight with that part of me anymore,it is who I am I'm going to learn to deal with it in a positive way :-)

Django

Interesting stuff,can't say I've done that :-)

Johnston

My problem is tolerance. I need more and more over time to get buzzed. It sucks.

DarkDays

When I had the barmy notion of moderation before I finally got sober it was always a few weeks of self flagellation before I had suffered enough of the obsession and the feeling of not being fulfilled , yuk.

DisplacedGRITS

I thought that i wanted to moderate but i've tried that and it makes me miserable. I've said this a million times already but it's still true...i can either control my drinking or enjoy it. Not both.

What i really wanted was to drink normally. I don't want to have to think about moderation. I want to just stop drinking when most people stop. I want to be able to drink and not obsess over it. I want to drink and have my body and mind connect on the same level and say "that's enough. I don't want anymore." As i am right now, i never drink enough. I'm a bottomless pit when you pour booze into me. I stop when i pass out and i drink again when i wake up.

So, basically, i would have to be a completely different person to be able to drink moderately and without obsession. It's not just a change of mind. It would have to be a total physical change in the way i process alcohol and how it effects me.

What i'm going to concentrate on is becoming a person who no longer drinks, no longer obsesses and is of service to others who need help. I'm going to be the best person i can be, not the best person i wish i could be.

Stewart888

SURE...I'd love to be like my Mom "88" and Dad "92" they drink EVERY night. Mom somethings 2 glasses of wine, Dad 1...if you give him 2 he may drink 1/2 the glass....Oh I wish....