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You and Alcohol
ThailandTom
Veteran
We all know that alcohol is something that hinders our progress down the dharma path, but I am sure at least a few of us here drink from time to time. For pure curiosity here is the alcohol calculator for a standard night out or in for you to take. You can add drinks to it if you are drinking mixed drinks etc, the end result comes with how many units you have consumed, which also gives you the calories and how many burgers that is equal to. Adding to that, it suggests how long you would need to run for to burn off that fat! I got 22 units, 6.2 burgers, and a 180 minute run.
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/
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Comments
I've massively cut down my alcohol intake. I just hate hangovers. Also, I'm preferring socialising whilst sober more and more. It was a friends 30th yesterday, so I had some of the ol' vino. According to the link you posted, I drank 13 units, had the equivalent of 2.5 burgers and I need to go for a 68 minute run (no chance of that happening today!). I am quite pro the whole drink aware scheme. I definitely think more about my alcohol intake than I used to, and other than a particular celebration like last night, I don't drink very much at all anymore.
Total calorie count 5700 (minus the hotpots, pizzas lasagnes and fry ups)
It didn't make me any fatter probably because I'm fairly active with a badly functioning gut (thanks to the alcohol), and subsequently don't take in many nutrients. Garbage in/garbage out. If I tried to do the same now I think it would be a death knell.
You might bloat from the inflammation, or if you're a casual drinker then all the extra fast food will extend the gut, but for a serious drinker it's skinny city, all the way down to your bones if the abuse continues.
Wow - no hangovers! You lucky bugger! Although, at least a hangover can help with lowering alcohol intake (not for all ppl admittedly). You know what you have to do, and you will get there I'm sure.
I have a good friend, he is 59, and will admit that he is an alcoholic. When asked whether or not he wishes he wasn't an alcoholic he says he is quite happy to continue drinking as he does, he enjoys it. He is a functioning alcoholic; holds down a full time job, maintains a relationship with his girlfriend, etc. A while back she marched him off to the doc for a check up. When he told me that his liver was functioning normally and he was given a full clean bill of health, I just couldn't believe it. Of course, I was relieved to know this, but I still wish he wouldn't drink to the extreme that he does, as one day it might come back and bite him on the ass health wise.
I am considering new years resolutions and lowering my alcohol intake even further, with a view to quitting completely is on my mind, as is quitting smoking.
Take care of yourself Tom
"You can do, smoke, snort, inject and put up your but hole whatever you like, it is up to you. But if you are a buddhist you should really think about what you are doing and how it will effect your state of mind and life in general. The precept is there for a reason."
Today was "just for curiosity"?
My dad is a total health freak, frequents the gym 5 times a week etc, but he use to be a chain smoker. When I was born, on new years even he decided to stop, and he did. I know for a fact he has not smoked since, he is muscular and eats very healthy. Some people can just stop smoking like that, most cannot.
For me, it goes back to just abusing whatever is availble I guess. I can never do things in moderation, if it was ecstasy it was 8-12 pills a night, alcohol too much, acid 5 drops at least. I seem to have a natural tolerance and never have the hangover or come down, which as you stated is good and also bad. Your friend, that is a astonishing tale, I am sure it is a genetic thing. My body is already messing up and I am 23.
Thanks for the link ginab, I may take a gander
When Buddhism stresses practice, it is just that. We spend alot of time practicing to justify-repeat. Part of the human experience.
Buddhist practice is doing the good things on purpose. Just practice doing the healthy things....on purpose. Practice should flow...not be forced.
My compassion to those who struggle, I would say avoid it all in all forms but yet I am not you.
I have said before that I self medicate for my social anxiety, and I know Hurbis scoulded me for saying so, but if you look it up, around 80% of people with severe social anxiety use substances to self medicate. I remember going back to when I was 17ish that I had to drink to the point of being 'half-cut' before even going out on a night. Now it is valium, if I do not take valium, I find it impossible to go to the store which is in eyesight of my house. You need to talk in someone elses shoes before you can even begin to understand.
Here is the link again for those just joining the thread and not reading the top section.
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/
“Furthermore, abandoning the use of intoxicants, the disciple of the noble ones abstains from taking intoxicants. In doing so, he gives freedom from danger, freedom from animosity, freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of beings.” (AN 8.39, tr. Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
"limitless numbers of beings" --social anxiety advice--check
Have I been sucked into the "free therapy"? lololol
I now have life experience on the General Banter debate. lololol
When I was a youngster in the AF stationed in Okinawa, I partied pretty hard and had quite a tolerance built up. I volunteered one day to be a drinker to help the police practice their sobriety test... Thanks tax payers ). Anyways, after 8 beers they ran me through their field test and said they would not have brought me in, and when I blew into the machine, I was just below legally drunk, although I'm sure I still had unabsorbed alcohol in my gut. I went back to the drinking room and had two more, then went back to be tested... Again they said they would not bring me in, but this time I blew high enough to be drunk. It was an interesting experiment for me.
I don't party anymore... I still like beer, but I only drink one in a sitting, very rarely having a 2nd. I know I would probably be hammered trying to finish a six pack, which shows me that I have lost my tolerance. Looking back at my heavy drinking days, I feel fortunate it is in my genes not to get addicted, because it sounds like hell trying to break it.
I've learnt a lot from my alcoholism - I'm one of those AAers who think their alcoholism was a 'gift', in that it has turned something negative into something extremely positive; transforming difficulty into something positive is also extremely 'Buddhist'.
I did not make, nor would I make, a personal attack against you. You seem to have taken a different approach however.
Thank you for your input, I will watch my responses more closely in the future.
With Metta
Anyway, that makes me even more self conscious. I also often don't want to help myself, I don't know if that is common among alcoholics..?
No problem, I did get a little heated myself. Rant over
Also, not caring about ourselves is common too. Many of us have a 'couldn't give a toss' kinda attitude. Speaking from my own experience, that was me - big style - however, only when the pain got bad enough, did I do something about it; that was my rock bottom.
I'm currently helping an alkie/addict about your age; he has lived on the streets and he can't read or write; he is severely bi polar and has not got your intelligence or many of the other gifts you possess. But he is sober and he's doing everything he can to stay that way; he will succeed if he keeps this up and he's doing great; but in the early days, I wouldn't have bet any money on him staying sober.
You can do this too; if you pull your finger out and get your ego out of the way; no-one will give a hoot about your psoriasis; nor if you're taking Valium. Just keep coming back, Tom.
With love, mate.
Alcoholism is called a disease of the 'self'. Buddhism teaches that the fundamental confusion of what the 'self' is, leads to suffering.
A.A.'s 12 steps helps deflate the 'self', which is hugely positive, and gives me a better insight into what Buddhism teaches.
I know the people at AA will not judge me for my condition or whatever, but my social anxiety is so bad that the trip there would be like walking through hell unless I take 30-40mgs of valium. I can't be taking valium for the rest of my life.
You have a great heart. I hope that guy you are helping now does stay sober, that would be awesome. I wish him all of the best sincerely, you are doing a great job.
You may also think you cannot give up the drink and Valium; again - THOUGHTS. You worry what people think; thoughts again.
Thoughts is just thinking, you really don't have to pay them too much attention; and whose that American Zen monk who says 'Thinking Kills'? Seriously, what's his name? He looks like a big bald chap, I think he's very well educated; I want to watch some of his stuff on youtube, but I can't remember his name. He slaps tables and shouts, "Do you understand that?"
Anyone know his name?
Anyway, thinking really does kill, but thinking is just thinking; it's not real; nothing to take too seriously. In A.A. we have a similar position known as Rule 62. Google for it!
It is quite self empowering to realise that we don't have to listen to what our heads tell us, nor react in a certain way just because we feel like it.
AA does seem to have a lot of good points about it. I really will try and get myself there, like I said before it is up in the top floor of the Hilton, so quite a lavish setting.
Thanks again, over and out
You're leading Tosh (and everyone else here) around by the nose, in my opinion. You're very skilled at wanting the right things and doing the wrong things. Eventually people will give up on you. But then I suppose you'll just find another group of unsuspecting listeners.... How long have you been doing this? 10 years?
ps. to be on topic: I don't drink. It was a problem briefly, but after throwing up mercilessly in my youth I thought it wasn't worth it. I like to be present in the present. I figured this out w/out Buddha. I just makes sense!
From an A.A. point of view, you're an alcoholic if you have these two things:
1. The phenomenon of craving, which is when we take one-or-two drinks, we want more. We'd never just have a glass or two out of a bottle of wine, we'd have to finish it; for example.
2. A mental obsession with alcohol. This is tougher to describe; for me it was that when I wasn't drinking, I was thinking about drinking. I'd plan my day around drinking.
I know guys in A.A. who just used to drink one bottle of wine per night, but more on weekends. It's not just a case of how much alcohol we consume, but our relationship with alcohol.
We don't drink because we like the taste; we drink because we like the effect the alcohol has on us; but of course some alcoholics dress up their alcoholism with 'fine wine', or 'fine scotch'; so even then, they kid themselves.
They say alcoholism is the only illness that tells you you haven't got it; so be careful. It's also described as cunning, baffling, powerful.
And if you suspect you have a problem with alcohol, but aren't quite sure, why not try to quit for 30 days and observe how you feel during the period of abstinence. And if you find you can't do that - you may justify that you've been working hard and 'deserve' a drink - then there could very possibly be a problem.
Alcoholism is a progressive illness, it will never get better, only worse, and it is lethal.
Jus' sayin' and not saying you are an alkie; this kinda information is never bad to know!
Those times I have gone out were 'must times', or when it is with a friend it is 'with' somebody which kind of takes the anxiety away a bit. If you were to have social anxiety at a severe level you may understand a little more. It get's annoying when people play it down, but it is can be just as disfunctional as many mental illnesses.
@ThailandTom you had better believe I am going to respond to this. Like I have mentioned in the past I have social and general anxiety. The difference is I do not make excuses for it, I do something about it.
You sit here and complain endlessly about yours, saying it's so bad that you can't___________________. Yet like @Possibilties said you manage to go do other things you want or maybe need to.
Clearly its about your priorities, or lack thereof. Since you know that going out of the house is easier with others, find someone to take you to a meeting,simple as that.
I partied a lot in my 20's, I get that, thankfully I grew out of it and rarely drink anymore. If your health is taking a toll perhaps it's time you stopped sooner rather than later. Because I will tell you that even when you stop your body already has irreparable damage.
My mother was a long time alcoholic, she had esophageal varices (like varicose veins of the esophagus), and had two major episodes of vomiting large quantities of blood requiring transfusion, just for starters. She also had breast cancer, which she beat. Later she developed a primary tumor on her liver,duodenum and pancreas, initially they would not operate, and then did.
The operation was successful, however due to the years of alcohol abuse her liver was unable to filter out the anasthesia and other things, so her stomach blew up with fluid (ascites) and they had to aspirate it. I would not wish that on anyone,for anyone familiar with what aspiration involves. Her liver failure caused her death, when otherwise she'd have survived.
So Tom,these are the things you will have to look forward to if you do not get help. Though I probably just expended a whole lot of thought and energy for something that will likely just be tossed aside, as it always is with you.
Tell me again why we all continue this dialogue with him constantly? How far can the limits of compassion be stretched? What about patience? Surely the Buddha had his limits, too.
We get better once we hit that hard place and can't take it anymore; our rock bottom; some 'bottoms' are lower than others; some people lose absolutely everything; material possessions, dignity, even their freedom 'cos they end up in prison.
And other people, well, their rock bottoms are 6 foot under.
I guess Buddhism would explain the differences in the rock bottoms as karmic propensity?
Yes My hurbis, you are the one who speaks for those how get bored of listening to my posts of this nature (which are not my only contrbution to this site), but if you cannot seem to have anymore compasion or advice then say nothing. What was it the buddha said, if you have nothing benefical or important to say, then shut up..?
I have or thought I had hit my rock bottom a few time. One times when I ended up having a seizure, one time when my GF found me with blue lips in a ppol of vomit nearly dead, I thought then that was my rock bottom, but I guess not. Maybe my rock bottom is to be dead. Maybe that is actually what I want, but I am too weak to carry it out so I am doing it slowly... I do not know myself fully enough to say to be honest.
His life was a mess, no wonder, half of it was lived in a haze.
IMO, alcohol is poison. Except worse: a slow death.