It’s common to have a better time at a social gathering with a drink in your hand. Alcohol can lower your inhibitions and make you feel like the life of the party. Many praise the benefits of drinking alcohol in moderation, which is known to immediately lower your blood pressure. Sources such as Medical Daily…
If you find yourself bored without alcohol or drinking simply because you’re bored, you might be developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Regular drinking is often considered socially appropriate and normal, but if your drinking extends to when you’re alone, that’s a red flag. There’s a very fine line between social drinking and problematic drinking,…
If you find yourself bored without alcohol or drinking simply because you’re bored, you might be developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Regular drinking is often considered socially appropriate and normal, but if your drinking extends to when you’re alone, that’s a red flag. There’s a very fine line between social drinking and problematic drinking,…
Everyone knows the stereotypical image of an alcoholic: They seek out alcohol in any situation, can never walk in a straight line and have a hard time keeping a job. A functioning alcoholic may exhibit signs that are harder to spot. If you believe your loved one is struggling with an alcohol problem, take a…
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects more than 14.5 million people in the United States. However, certain alcohol-related behaviors such as binge drinking have become so commonplace that the lines become easily blurred between drinking alcohol and developing a problem with it. We’ve all seen the American preoccupation with excuses to binge drink. Whether it’s a…
Recovering from alcoholism is a challenging journey for many reasons. Alcoholism isn’t only about the addiction to alcohol itself. It’s also about having a crutch that makes people feel better when they’re struggling and can even provide a way for someone to socialize. For many alcoholics, the entirety of their social lives revolves around bars,…
A last glass of wine before bed or a drink before getting ready for sleep is an idea that makes its way into every form of media. Well-meaning friends or family to those who have trouble falling asleep often recommend a nightcap — one last drink before bed. While alcohol may make it easier to…
The drug and alcohol recovery community often uses confusing terminology that’s hard to grasp when you first come across it. There’s often still a stigma in society around alcoholism and addiction, so it can be difficult to ask about common jargon used in recovery topics. Some phrases such as “falling off the wagon” have, at…
Alcohol is an influential substance in society, and its use dates back thousands of years. The earliest traces of alcohol use are from between 7000 and 6600 BC in China. In ancient India, between 3000 and 2000 BC, alcoholic beverages were called “sura.” In the 16th century, alcohol was used medicinally in Great Britain, and…
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in the United States, and as a result, it’s the most commonly abused as well. Nearly 70% of Americans drink, and up to 15 million adults have a substance abuse disorder. Very often, these problems begin with social drinking, in which alcohol is used in groups and to…