Hi @HenryX It sounds as though you have a solution that works for you - It is great that you can drink with friends once a month and abstain the rest of the time.
My family experience was father in military relatively heavy drinker most of life, mother also till total abstinence for most of remainder of life, probably similar reasons to my own - too many possible problems. I am certainly at a level between cautious and fearful of possible consequences for me. Used to work as waiter in pubs when younger so often saw consequences of over indulgence
@HenryX Yes - Alcohol can have a huge impact on peoples lives - and I imagine working as a waiter in pubs in your younger days would have given you perspective of the issues that over indulgence can bring
Christmas and the new year can be a challenging time for many people who already have or are wanting to change their relationship with alcohol. Some tips coming into the silly season include:
Have a schedule and plan.
Make sure you have time for self-care.
Have some delicious alcohol-free drinks available at home.
Remind friends and family of your goals for them to support you.
Don't want to monopolise the conversation but also see evidence in my own children, mid-life of a keeness for alcohol that could cause problems. Possibly genetic or socialised influences, though even with what I have already said, I would find it difficult to offer an idea of which may be dominant.
@HenryX Growing up I also witnessed both my parents experencing addiction issues. This was a motivation to choose my own recovery journey once I too began using substances to deal with my feelings. I am very grateful for this now.
