Five Myths About Alcohol

It’s fine to have a drink every so often. Right? How else would you relax after a tough day at work or feel comfortable at a social gathering? Plus, even the doctors say a glass or two of red wine is good for you. Not to mention, who wants to be around a teetotaler? People who don’t drink aren’t fun or cool.

Some are wising up to these concepts and suggestions and no longer going along with unconscious minds. And who best decides what’s good for us? Isn’t it time we make educated decisions for ourselves? I recently heard on a podcast that a large percentage of people who were polled considered alcohol to be poison and they weren’t going to partake. Good for them.
Let’s examine some of the myths about alcohol. You might be surprised to learn that it’s not so harmless after all.

Myth # 1 – Alcohol is a good way to relax from stress.
We live in a quick-fix world, and many people perceive the fastest way to relax is to drink. It’s true, alcohol will give you instant relaxation and a nice little buzz, too. But there’s a price to pay for instant gratification.
First, you’re less inclined to examine your lifestyle or why you’re so stressed. If you manage your stress with alcohol, you might be avoiding changes in your lifestyle that are causing you undue anxiety. Instead, if you take inventory of how you’re living your life, you might be able to make changes that support a more relaxed, enjoyable way of working, loving, and playing. Managing your time wisely, being around positive people, and making choices you feel good about are the main ways to minimize stress.

Myth # 2 – There’s no harm in an occasional drink.
For those of us who think alcohol is a harmless elixir, think again. Alcohol is a toxic substance that irritates your entire digestive system.[1] It irritates your entire mucous lining, your esophagus, and your intestinal tract.  That’s why some people (rightly) consider it to be poison.

An even greater harm is that there’s no such thing as occasional for some. Alcohol is a highly addictive drug. Some people start craving it from their very first drink. Others develop an insatiable need for more over time. There’s no guarantee that once you start drinking, you’ll be a controlled drinker. Instead, you might be the one who’s controlled, and never realize what happened or why.

Myth # 3 – If you want to be socially accepted, you’d better drink.
This myth goes with the notion that you’re not much fun unless you drink. Actually, the reverse is more likely. People who drink to have fun are limiting themselves by altering their best judgment, numbing out, and losing control. If you can’t have fun without self-medicating, it would be wise to learn how.

Most people suffer from some form of social anxiety. But it’s not that difficult to learn how to socialize without a false sense of well-being induced by alcohol. Books and videos are abundant on how to manage social anxiety, and the methods far exceed lubricating one’s natural social tensions. The best cure for social anxiety is to focus on making someone else feel at ease. If someone isn’t comfortable with a non-drinker, they have the problem. You don’t need to conform to anyone’s agenda to be fun or accepted. You’ll be the one that returns home at night without having said or done something embarrassing or a D.U.I. You’ll also wake up the following morning feeling rested and ready for the day. Plus, the sooner you learn how to feel comfortable in your own skin without drinking, the faster you’ll develop a solid self-esteem.

Myth # 4 – Alcohol helps you to fall asleep.
Alcohol can indeed put you to sleep, but there’s one caveat. It also wakes you up. Alcohol not only dysregulates your brain’s natural sleep patterns,[2] it also affects your blood sugar causing it to spike after the alcohol wears off.[3]

If you have trouble getting to sleep, try listening to meditation tapes or learn how to hypnotize yourself. Reading a book can also relax you. Journaling is a good way to dump whatever ails you and allow your mind to rest. Regardless, using alcohol or any other sedative to sleep interferes with your natural biorhythms. A few sleepless nights are far better than developing habit-forming methods that make things worse. No one dies from lack of sleep. You can always take a 15–20-minute power nap during the day.

You’re guaranteed to sleep best through natural fatigue as opposed to substance-induced methods.

Myth # 5 – Drinking makes for better sex.
Alcohol seems to provide better sex, but being disinhibited doesn’t necessarily equate with better sex. You might feel freer after a few drinks, but drinking is counter-productive to the best sex.

Aside from the fact, that you might wind up having sex with someone you ordinarily wouldn’t, it also has other negative effects. As an anesthetic, it numbs all physical sensations, so sex doesn’t feel as good under the influence, and orgasms are less likely. For men, there’s also the risk of erectile dysfunction — especially with aging.

Good sex comes from spending time with someone you care for and allowing the desire to rise through mental and physical stimulation organically. If you need liquid courage to enjoy sex, it’s time to understand sex and human anatomy better as opposed to bypassing the key ingredients to sexual intimacy.

Just because we’ve become a society of drinkers doesn’t mean it’s the smartest choice to make. Whatever benefits you receive from drinking, there’s a price to pay. You’re far better off learning how to manage your mind and body naturally instead of artificial, mood-altered means. That way, instead of being slowed and absorbed into the bottle you can remain an intelligent, objective observer. It won’t take long for you to be grateful that you have your wits about you, your health, and all the other things that alcohol promises but are by no means free. For every bonus, you pay a price.

You don’t need to get rid of your feelings or change your personality to feel calmer, better, or to fit in. You’re perfect just the way you are. If you want self-improvement, try it the old-fashioned way – learning and maturing. You’ll have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT TO SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM ADDICTION.