I used to drink alcohol to self-medicate my social anxiety. I realized eventually, however, that, because it also lowered my inhibitions, I would do and say things I wouldn't have were I not inebriated. This is what effectively convinced me to give up the drink, as it were.
Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
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Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#12Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#13[dead]
Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#14They never include the mental benefits of alcohol. A night out drinking with friends or coworkers has mental health benefits that last, sometimes a lifetime.
You are talking about literally the single substance responsible for the most human (mental/physical) health damage out of anything we've managed to come up with so far, and not for a lack of trying. You still have some time to reflect and delete this comment (I think HN gives you about an hour).
Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#15Here’s one of the fundamental problems with studying human diet and psychology, from the article:
> The best way to assess the effects of alcohol would be to randomly assign people to drink it or not in childhood and then monitor their health and drinking over the rest of their lives. Since such studies cannot be done, researchers instead have to ask people about their drinking habits and follow them over much shorter periods of time.
Studying humans properly is nigh-on impossible.
Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#16They never include the mental benefits of alcohol. A night out drinking with friends or coworkers has mental health benefits that last, sometimes a lifetime.
The mental benefits, including significant increase in suicide and interpersonal violence? /s
Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#17They never include the mental benefits of alcohol. A night out drinking with friends or coworkers has mental health benefits that last, sometimes a lifetime.
You are talking about literally the single substance responsible for the most human (mental/physical) health damage out of anything we've managed to come up with so far, and not for a lack of trying. You still have some time to reflect and delete this comment (I think HN gives you about an hour).
It clearly seems beneficial and/or enjoyable for some (not me so much), and tobacco and opiates seem like they do their fair share of damage as well.
Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#18They never include the mental benefits of alcohol. A night out drinking with friends or coworkers has mental health benefits that last, sometimes a lifetime.
Alcohol is not needed for that to be beneficial. Orthogonal at best.
Alcohol's effects on mental health for a population does not depend on whether alcohol is necessary to achieve a certain standard of mental health.
Re: Why many studies wrongly claim it's healthy to drink a little alcohol
#19I used to drink alcohol to self-medicate my social anxiety. I realized eventually, however, that, because it also lowered my inhibitions, I would do and say things I wouldn't have were I not inebriated. This is what effectively convinced me to give up the drink, as it were.
But isn't social anxiety a source of many harmful inhibitions? To me moderate lowering of inhibitions is a good thing, and a couple of beers helps with that. But with anything more the bad effects outweigh the good.
Still, facing one's fears and going sober to anxiety inducing situations is absolutely much better long-term treatment of social anxiety. That has a lasting effect, alcohol doesn't.