Cowards, alcohol, and other mind altering substances.

I am not referring here to the “social drinker.” What does that term mean anyway? If an individual drinks one glass of wine at night and does not socialize are they not a social drinker? Are they a problematic alcoholic? Of course not. I am curious if the medical profession coined the term or desperate alcoholics coined the term. It is irrelevant for the purpose of this article. There are a multitude of individuals who drink, take mind altering substances to avoid, and run away from their own issues or past haunts. A distorted sense of reality comes in handy when avoidance is what we know, and is what we are used to when avoiding past traumas. There are a multitude of songs, specifically of the country genre, touting about drinking the blues away, sitting in a bar discussing the tribulations of relationships and or loneliness. It has been romanticized to the point of delusion, and is embraced by many.

Life trauma occurs to many, we have not been given or taught the coping mechanisms to deal with resolving life crisis, and it is much easier to pop a top again, light a rolled up herb, or pop a pill than focus on problem solving and feeling good about yourself. The fallout from drinking and drugs is excessive. It takes a great deal of inner strength and passion to deal with a problem and resolve it than resort to a substance. Our culture begs us to seek a quick fix, and substance abuse is NOT. It gives us the illusion of a quick fix instead it is a delay of the inevitable. A life of unresolved emotional pain that we overlay with substances that increase the morbidity of our relationships, our health, and poor peer choices.

Courageous individuals confront their fear head on,in fact it is really the only way to resolve intense fear and crisis. Cowards resort to alcohol, substances, and run from the problems. They blame therapists,blame spouses, blame health care providers and deny to their death they are never addicted and their life trauma was never a severe issue. Denial, an amazing defense mechanism that leads to more deaths, more broken relationships than the original crisis itself.

This article has nothing to do with legalization of cannabis, social drinkers, the benefit of an occasional glass of wine or a cold beer at a July ballgame. This is about individuals who hide behind substances, to crutch them through life, never focusing on their real pain.

To those that any or all of this hits home. Try something different, look for change without the substance, realize you are not being courageous, admit error, admit frailty, find humility and look in the mirror. Try and find the real you. It is NOT on a Coor’s train blowing snow, or a dog that brings you a Bud Light, or the euphoria behind the cannabis. The real you, is the you before the substances started in your life. Go back to your past, back to when you could laugh, have fun, and enjoy life without the crutch. Cowards always die a lonely death. Happiness is real when shared, why not share it with some courageous peers. There is enough in life to alter our senses without chemicals and I swear you will not regret it.