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Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

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Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#21

Post by p1esk »

mft_ wrote: post #16
p1esk wrote: post #7

How long have you been having a single drink a day? If it’s been a year or longer - you’re unique in not forming an addiction. If not - you’re playing with fire.

/citation needed Is there evidence that everyone else in the world would be “addicted” to alcohol if they consumed a single drink (one unit, 25mL of 40% spirits of equivalent) for more than 364 days? I really think you shouldn’t be throwing around such generalisations when someone is attempting to promote a serious discussion about the rational ‘use’ of alcohol.

I provided my opinion based on what they wrote. I did not intend to generalize it. I’m not sure the OP fully understands the serious risks of alcohol consumption. I have observed enough lives damaged by alcoholism to speak from experience.

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#22

Post by ajb »

It used to be common to think of alcohol as having positive effects - look at how people talk about it in old films. But some of the effects proved to be a problem in the end. for example, many people took a "nightcap"to help sleep. But it turns out that, while it makes you feel sleepy, it also disturbs the sleep you do get.

One "standard drink" a day, if that's actually all you take, is within recommended limits. But if you need it to function, it does risk building an addiction. And it wouldn't be great to take it at night

I was recently surprised to discover that Nytol herbal elixir, as sold over the counter, is 70% alcohol and the recommended daily dose amounts to 0.7 of a unit of alcohol (about half a US standard drink) which seems quite dodgy to me

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#23

Post by southernplaces7 »

The sheer amount of unfounded fear mongering about consuming moderate or small amounts of alcohol on this site is ridiculous. Considering how common it is for people on HN to "authoritatively" comment completely out of their ass on subjects that they're poorly informed about, i'd take any screed against modest to moderate alcohol consumption with a major grain of salt.

Ideally, you shouldn't allow yourself to become dependent on alcohol for any reason, and it obviously causes well known health problems. But as with many things, context, quantity and circumstance are very important factors. billions of people worldwide use alcohol regularly without becoming alcoholics and without any hard evidence of their dying from its effects. If some of them also use modest amounts of it to help certain specific anxiety issues, it's not necessarily or automatically a one-way path to doom or health catastrophe. Let's not fall off a cliff into hyperbole.

Also worth mentioning is how hypocritical such scorn against alcohol here is. This site is famous for numerous people firmly recommending all kinds of poorly explored and sometimes completely unfounded "therapeutic" uses of various random chemicals and mind altering substances. I can't count the number of comments I've seen casually recommending numerous kinds of hallucinogens for various problems in life, but god forbid anyone should use alcohol in any quantity for anything involving their peace of mind... Let's not be absurd. Those other substances are also known for certain potential dangers, and casually recommending one while deriding the other is a visible example of thoughtless bias (probably related to the demographic tendencies of those who comment)

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#24

Post by JackMorgan »

I would strongly suggest trying to find a CBT program. Also reading books like "Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" or "The Body Keeps the Score".

Alcohol to cure the symptoms is dangerous long term. It destroys lives, families, and trust. You can't drown your anxiety. Anxiety comes from somewhere, and the body can just ramp it up and up until it's dealt with.

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#25

Post by ivankelly »

megamike wrote: post #2

I have a small shot glass of anise liquor Anise is a common ingredient in liqueurs and alcohols, such as ouzo and anisette. Anise has many potential health benefits, including: Digestive health: Anise can help with bloating, indigestion, heartburn, and low stomach acidity. It's often used in pediatrics to settle the digestive tract. Anti-inflammatory: Anise has anti-inflammatory properties. Antimicrobial: Anise has a…

The gripe water that parents in Ireland and the UK used to give to babies used to be a mixture of sugar and alcohol. 3.6%. They took that formulation off the market in the 90s though.

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#26

Post by ein0p »

CBT is what you need, not alcohol. You need to gradually convince yourself to not fear your phobia, through small, concrete steps, reinforcement, and external, independent review. Alcohol or MJ will merely dull the symptoms. Between the two, however, there’s no question small doses of MJ are better for your health than drinking even a little every day. Note, however: taken in excess MJ can worsen anxiety.

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#27

Post by spiffycat »

Not a medical professional,

Have a search about inflammation in your body and especially brain. It can be the cause of your panic attacks..

As moderate alcohol can reduce inflammation. Am against alcohol consumption.. Find other ways..

https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/45/6/747/2499235 https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/06/is-drinking-i...

There isn't a facility for PMs on HN?

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#29

Post by lm28469 »

mft_ wrote: post #16
p1esk wrote: post #7

How long have you been having a single drink a day? If it’s been a year or longer - you’re unique in not forming an addiction. If not - you’re playing with fire.

/citation needed Is there evidence that everyone else in the world would be “addicted” to alcohol if they consumed a single drink (one unit, 25mL of 40% spirits of equivalent) for more than 364 days? I really think you shouldn’t be throwing around such generalisations when someone is attempting to promote a serious discussion about the rational ‘use’ of alcohol.

I have a lot of friends who drink a large beer every evening and "can stop whenever they want" none of them ever stopped in the last 20 years, they might not be physically addicted to the substance but they are definitely addicted to the habit and the effects are the same in the end. It doesn't matter if you can in theory stop but not do it or if you cannot physically stop, in the end you're drinking every day

Re: Therapeutic Benefits of Alcohol?

#30

Post by jowdones »

big-green-man wrote: post #3

Because any reasoning behind drinking is seen as an excuse to be a drunk. You're self medicating with alcohol. That's not the worst thing in the world. It helps you. It sounds almost like a miracle drug for you. I don't see why you'd rather switch to benzos. Just understand, alcohol is addictive and tolerance can be built up, so you're dancing with the devil and you'd better adhere to a set of rules. One drink a day…

I agree with the longpost :)

Also I suspect some people are more tolerant on alcohol than others and I don't mean being allergic to alcohol. Like I was never able to drink and not feel pretty nasty afterwards, even small amounts (not that this deterred me from doing it occasionally). But I see lots of people who can have 2-3 beers and be totally fine and like 10 beers and fairly ok next morning. Not me, and only way I explain it is they are better equipped genetically to processing alcohol than me.

So alcohol doesn't help me much but doesn't mean it helps noone.

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