alcohol
All about the effects of alcohol on the mind and body, and what a drinker should expect from a sip, or ten, of the hard stuff.
At the Precipice of Madness
Sometime around the beginning of December, 2015, I received a Facebook message from Kelly, a woman whom I had dated back in 2011. We had started dating after Valentine's Day of that year and continued until the end of August, when she moved away to continue her education. After trying the long distance thing until the end of the year, we met up one last time and decided it was in both of our best interests if we just moved on. It broke my heart to do so, but I loved her enough to know that letting her go would be much better for her than trying to string things along.
Damien WoodPublished 6 years ago in ProofFunniest Hidden Flasks to Help You Hide Your Booze
Sure, you can drink a can of Steel Reserve or blackberry brandy from a brown paper bag, but what if you want to be even more discrete? Maybe you're at a beach, park, movies, or high school graduation and really need to keep your alcohol consumption on the down low. Luckily, the best hidden flasks will make no one the wiser in regards to your secret boozing.
Ben KharakhPublished 6 years ago in Proof- Top Story - April 2018
Alcohol Dependence, Are You at Risk?
Take this simple test to determine if you are at risk for alcohol addiction. If you can claim two or more of these warning signs of alcohol you may be at risk and need to speak to your primary doctor who can help to assess and provide treatment options for problem drinking.
Carolann SherwoodPublished 6 years ago in Proof What Six Months of Sobriety Has Taught Me
Six months ago, I didn’t know how this was going to go. I didn’t know if I’d quit for a week, a month, two months, the classic one hundred days, or more. Here I am today, six months after I chose to take a break from drinking, which was how I thought about it at the time. Taking a break— something that is temporary. I didn’t know how long this would last, and I still don’t. I do, however, know that six months is longer than I originally predicted I’d be able to go. As someone that had spent the past five years or so drinking regularly, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stick with the sober lifestyle. What would Saturday nights be like if I wasn’t going to my favorite bar and relaxing with a few PBRs? What would I order to drink at nice dinners when the wine list was off limits? What would special occasions be like minus the White Russian or Long Island Iced Tea? And speaking of special occasions, over the past six months, I’ve had several come up that I’ve spent sober for the first time in years. I’ve attended two open bar weddings since going sober, including my own sister’s. On top of that, there’s been Thanksgiving, Christmas; New Years was especially hard. St. Patrick’s Day. In just a few weeks, my birthday. All of that being said, there are things that I’ve learned over the past six months—some of which I expected, some I didn’t. Here are a few.
Elizabeth BrandonPublished 6 years ago in Proof9 Best Boozy Ice Cream Recipes
You shouldn’t have to justify bringing boozy ice cream into your life, but if you do, think about life as an adult. You can spend your hard-earned money on cool stuff like new frying pans and toilet paper. You can choose to stay up late, but crawl into bed no later than 10 PM, anyway. You can make spreadsheets to budget your bills and schedule your own dentist appointments. And you can buy alcohol—all kinds of alcohol.
Jovelle AvancenaPublished 6 years ago in ProofFunctioning Alcoholic
Just sitting on the back porch, sipping cheap whiskey mixed with canned blackberries. And I mean cheap whiskey, 1.75 liters cost like $17.50. And that's after tax. The two before were whiskey and Dr. Pepper. I ran out. But I ain't gonna sip just cheap whiskey. That's what alcoholics do. I'm not.
Casey HiatusPublished 6 years ago in Proof10 Scientific Studies That Prove Drinking Can Be Healthy
"To alcohol: the cause and solution to all of life's problems!" When Homer Simpson made that toast he couldn't have possibly known about all the scientific studies that prove drinking can be healthy. If he just maintains a moderate consumption of alcohol, Homer will be less likely to get diabetes, have germs in his mouth, and will have better bones. And you can reap the same protective effects while also warding off a health risk like cardiovascular disease. Bottoms up!
Erik PasqualePublished 6 years ago in ProofMom's Drunk
I’m sure you have seen the memes and GIFs and cute wine glasses and paraphernalia. The ones with the witty comments about needing a glass of wine or a whole bottle. They are cute, they are funny, but to an alcoholic it’s encouraging.
Tamara ScottPublished 6 years ago in ProofLooking Back on January
To kick off my 2018 I decided to do a dry January. This seems to be increasingly popular as I quickly learned that two of my close and heavy drinking friends decided to partake as well. I have gone dry before so not drinking for one month was a breeze.
Little CaviarPublished 6 years ago in ProofMy Alcoholism Prevented Me From Getting Advanced Degrees
When I was busy drinking on half-baked meds and wasting my time in other ways, I didn’t think about how this would impact my desire to get advanced degrees. I knew in my twenties that I wanted to become a lawyer and get a psychology Ph.D. But in my thirties, my desire to study medicine came out with help from a friend of mine who pointed out I wanted to become a prescribing psychiatrist in addition. This desire got tacked on to my other desires. I have no idea how the psychiatrist thing popped into my head but it did. Then I discovered I just plain wanted to help people with my disability. I would like a joint MBA with my law degree and also, I want a Masters in psychology, an M.S. specifically.
Iria Vasquez-PaezPublished 6 years ago in ProofHow I Recognized I'm an Alcoholic
I was flirting with functional alcoholism from the age of 18 when I graduated high school. My family imposes their problems with alcohol on each other, with nobody really recognizing their problem. I was drinking port in my twenties. Somehow I could make it home at night without anybody noticing. I’m 36 now, and I have maintained my sobriety from 2010 until now. This is 8 years of sobriety. I get antsy in bars. I recognized my alcoholism for years but I kept it going as my own best enabler. The ex and I were drinking buddies.
Iria Vasquez-PaezPublished 6 years ago in ProofBest Cognac and Cigar Pairings to Enjoy
When it comes to cigar pairings, you can't just grab any glass of spirit to enjoy it with. Certain cigars have a distinct taste, as well as certain cognacs. And when you find the right pair, the two compliment each other in the best way.