Old Age and Binge Drinking Don't Mix
09.25.06 (5:48 pm) [edit]
Ok, so I know I'm not that old. But, during my undergraduate years at college (4+ yrs ago), binge drinking is what my friends and I did. When we went out, we went out to party and get smashed. Although, I'd like to think I'm little wiser now, occassionally I cut loose and imbibe a little too much. Ok, I'm lying I imbibe way too much, I get shit faced, trashed, smashed, snookered, anyway you call it. But, typically this has been limited to a couple of times a year during holidays since I graduated from undergrad. Now, that I'm back in school, I have friends who do this a couple times a week. Yeesh, you know your old when...
Anyway, I've been "out" 3 times since school has started. And let's just say, my tolerance is still pretty good and I have yet to wake up with a serious hangover. Of course, the day after I'm completely useless. My brain is completely fogged up and concentrating in class and studying becomes very difficult. So, what have I learned as I've grown older? Only imbibe a lot of alcohol when you have nothing, I mean nothing to do the next day. It didn't used to take a day for me to recoup...but now it does.
Ok, I've discovered something new as well. The day after I'm always a little out of sorts and depressed. Even if I did not make an ass of myself the night before, the guilt demon rears its ugly head. Intellectually I know that going out and drinking while in a safe environment, w/o driving and when I didn't make an ass of myself, well I should have no guilt. But, emotionally it's there and it steadily decays away at me. It takes me about all day to shut out that critical voice in my head. Now compound that feeling by ten and then you'll have a small inclination of what I went through as an undergrad. After my freshmen year, for reasons explained elsewhere, I suffered from severe depression. Compound that regular everyday feeling with that of drinking and the after effects and I was constantly a mess. I look back and wonder sometimes how I ever survived. But, thank god I did.
On the other side, I have to wonder why I'm compelled to drink at all. For me, I think, it's because I can feel uncomfortable in some social situations and maybe I just don't know how to let go and just have a good time w/o a little shove. It's a sad state of affairs, but there you have it. Or maybe I'm just missing the reason entirely...who knows I'm tired of self analyzing...enough of it for now.
posted by: Cutter (reply)
post date: 09.25.06 (3:14 pm)
I drink pretty often. Always have.
The worst thing about it is that there truly is a horrible feeling... it's along the lines of feeling insecure or embarrassed or guilty about something. It seems that no matter what you do or do not do, the feeling always comes. Usually takes about a day or two to go away, unless you drink more, and then it seems to go away with the alcohol.
I despise the feeling. Unfortunately, I (apparently) like the beer more.
posted by: irishred (reply)
post date: 09.25.06 (4:07 pm)
I still drink beer like it's the last day to purchase the beverage before it goes extinct. And I am 34. I consider myself mature too!
The social component is one that many people struggle with.
Love the blog :)
posted by: lovelikeliquid (reply)
post date: 09.26.06 (10:04 am)
i never fully reallized to total impact that drinking was doing to me until this year, since j and i have settled down and started being more "responsible" at least during the week, and im 32. it does take a full day to recover now. i use to be out to all hours almost every night and at work the next day thinking no big deal, but i notice such a differnce now that i dont drink almost daily, and depression is one of the biggest differences. maybe that is why i always seem so moody on mondays now..
hmm, i'll have to ponder that.
we live and learn.
cheers.