Alcohol is such an incredibly shitty drug I don't understand why it's so popular and why people don't substitute it with another drug. What's most curious is why people don't do drug substitution for cost mitigation.
Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
141–150 of 253 posts
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#142Last year, at age 35, I started drinking heavily. I would buy a bottle of Absolute and would not stop till I see the bottom of it. 2 bottles a week at min. About 5-6 months, I've stopped drinking without anyone's help. Yesterday and today, I'm having a strong urge to get completely wasted. Just go to the store around the block, buy bottle of Absolute. Yesterday, while driving on I-695, I saw a guy with a child seat o…
I'm surprised you were able to function the next day with that amount. I recently turned 30, and I definitely cannot drink as much as I used to. I get an allergic response to alcohol, which really sucks because I used to enjoy it. There is a mutation in OPRM1 in certain populations that causes your opiate receptors (particularly mu subtype) to release endorphins when drinking. I've definitely had that happen to me wh…
LSD is an acid, literally, maybe it just burns the receptors. Non of that experience talk. It's not an opiate anyway but the body can produce neuro transmitters on its own, if you are paradoxically happy about intoxicating yourself. If somehow this pathway is interrupted, I'm not sure that's a good thing. Alcohol in great masses can have the same effect, after all, if the drinking at some point only serves to feel miserable, lacking the joy and done only out of habbit.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#143I’ve never been a heavy drinker, but at one point 2 years ago I handled a project by myself to move 6 million dollars a month in charity transactions from one uncooperative payment processor to another. I normally handled stress well, but this was a different level and it was physically taxing on me. I had a glass of wine one night about 3 weeks into this and immediately felt so much better that I ended up having 3-4…
I hope this isn't revisioning. The drinking might actually increase the stress levels, subtly so and slowly, if sticking to small ammounts. That means I'm not denying that the job wasn't difficult to beginn with, but the addicted are prone to shift blame out of proportion--I know because I frequently blame e.g. work schedule, when I'm too tired because I spent all night with something else instead of sleeping like most people regularly manage to achieve. It's literally irresponsible, i.e. not responding to good faith.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
So you're replacing one substance with another? How is that better?
Isn’t this stance completely dismissive of methadone clinics approach to addiction? If the individual can break a stronger and more dangerous addiction with a less addictive and dangerous substance then it’s a net positive on their addiction journey but not the final stop.
We're right to complain about methadone clinics which show poor effectiveness when compared to other better programs.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#145Earlier quoted context omitted.
"social lubrication" is another way of saying reducing anxiety stress.
Social anxiety about the current moment, though. They are different anxieties.
It goes hand in hand. Mental performance is to a large degree reliant on physical performance, as for digestion, respiration, blood circulation, hormone ballance, wakefullness (focus), muscle tonus (literally being upright), nervous integrity and what have you.
Maybe a small bit of spirit is helpfull for digestion. For everything else, alcohol is a nervous agent. Social easing is a bit like shaking up the weights of a neural network, a little randomization does often make no difference and might even help to get out of a local minimum, but also away from an optimum. You don't want to go at it with a cheese grater and kitchen mixer, or let an epileptic operate with a rusty knife on an open heart.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#146Earlier quoted context omitted.
I actually have found small doses of LSD have helped me lose the desire to drink. There is legitimate research happening that shows this is a real phenomenon...unsure about the science but for me it’s a cleaner better “high” with no hangover effect and not nearly as toxic (if at all)
In case it needs to be stated - please don't take illicit substances because a random poster on an internet forum tells you it's helped in x or y ways. (For the record, I do believe this class of substances can help a lot of people. Do your own research, know your own body, and think for yourself before making a decision that can have possible adverse effects)
There's no such thing as "illicit" and "legal" substances on the internet - it depends on where each poster and reader is located.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#147Just putting this out there... https://soilandhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/02/0201hyglibca... One of the early uses of fasting was to treat alcoholism. Edit: why would anyone in their right mind downvote this? Why do I even bother with HN anymore. Suggest a lifelong drug/vaccine with who knows what consequences, and HN celebrates the post. Suggest a 3-5 day fast to rid oneself of alcoholism and get downvoted and fla…
It's probably just not the right context for introducing this topic. The suggestion that a fast might have cured this person's alcoholism and saved their life is highly speculative and may be seen as offensive by some.
Offensive really? Is it part of the American culture? Genuinely curious.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#148Last year, at age 35, I started drinking heavily. I would buy a bottle of Absolute and would not stop till I see the bottom of it. 2 bottles a week at min. About 5-6 months, I've stopped drinking without anyone's help. Yesterday and today, I'm having a strong urge to get completely wasted. Just go to the store around the block, buy bottle of Absolute. Yesterday, while driving on I-695, I saw a guy with a child seat o…
There's an old Irish saying that goes "A man takes a drink, the drink takes a drink, the drink takes the man." If you have a drinking problem, you just need to avoid drinking period. I have some close friends that have drinking problems and what I learned from their experiences: 1. If you're an alcoholic and think you can handle a single drink, you're lying to yourself. 2. It's honestly not worth it. Life is better t…
One thing I'd put out there: AA is great if it works for you, but it's not the only game in town and can be hard to love. If it doesn't work for you, SMART and lifering are both popular and well-validated options.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#149Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wish there was a way to reduce stress the way you describe alcohol does, but without the tolerance-related escalation and the addiction. I have been trying meditation and progressive relaxation - they do work, but only for a limited duration. 2 hours later, you're back to being jittery and edge-of-the-seat.
There is. It's called physical exercise.
Arguably this does/can lead to tolerance escalation and addiction - but most people are fine with that.
Re: Square Inc. Co-Founder Tristan O’Tierney Dies at 35
#150If someone gets a cancer, we don't judge them for having weak DNA replication.
If someone gets an infectious disease, we don't judge them for having a weak immune system.
If someone becomes addicted to a substance, we shouldn't judge them for having a weak physical or psychiatric system.
Addiction is a disease and should be treated as such. All of the xA (Alcoholics/Narcotics/Gambling etc) Anonymous are fine communal assistance groups, but addiction is not about will power.