Why I stopped binge drinking.
Aged 16 I was taller than all my friends and getting into clubs. By 18 I was over clubbing, I'd done loud music and sticking to floors and bars were my preferred choice. As a student, pre-drinking was the order of the day. Getting wasted on three bottles of wine prior to leaving the house was a regular occurrence.
According to the government, binge drinking is classed as having over 8 units in a single session for men and over 6 units per women.
I would go out and feel that I would have to get drunk in order to have a good time. I was too embarrassed to dance (or wiggle) without being blotto. Nights out as nominated driver would fill me with dread and awkwardness that I couldn’t drink away.
Last September my life turned upside down. Out of my sadness and grief came a more mature outlook. I stopped craving my weekly binge nights out. Drinking is known to affect mood and can lead to serious mental health issues. I always found that the day after a binge I would be low in mood. I decided that I no longer wanted days lost spent hungover in bed, hours where I couldn’t remember what I'd talked about or how I'd gotten home, and I got rid of negativity from my life.
Now I have on average less than 1 small drink per week. Most weeks I drink nothing at all. The purchase of my new house this week was cause for celebration last night and a couple of glasses of Prosecco. My new ‘lightweight’ body will happily get tipsy off this small amount of liquor and the following day I can function as normal (although it does still cause me a sleepless night).
The funny thing is, I don’t miss it. I don’t go out for nights out that I wouldn’t enjoy. I guess its all part of growing up and becoming who you are, and my liver is very thankful!
Ax
