Not a drinker here either
I understand EXACTLY what your going through. My direct family have NEVER been drinkers. I can count how many beers my father has drank on one hand and I am in my 30's!!! However, my brother is a recovering alcoholic and so was my grandmother before she died. Alot of my relatives are or were alcoholics and I know it does run in families. Drinking is something that I am clearly cautious and aware of. :cool:
Here's been the clear cut test in my life on deciding on drinking. I got drunk! :eek: I mean DRUNK! When I was about 17 years old my older friends gave me some PGA (190 proof) and some other mixed drinks. I am 5'2" so it doesn't take much. I overdid it completely. I had "tunnel vision" and was completely numb. My friend who weighed over 200 pounds actually fell on me and I did NOT feel it! I was most likely suffering from alcohol poisoning at the time. :( It was the WORST thing and feeling I had ever had in my life!!!
My point is that when I sobered up, I HATED the experience!!! It was the worst thing I could ever imagining doing to myself. It was at that point that I knew that drinking alcohol was NOT for me and where to draw my limits. 2 wine coolers at a party or some "special punch" is enough for me. Once I start feeling a "buzz" I STOP!
I think honestly, this is where the difference between "social drinkers" and "alcholics" draw the line. A "social drinker" drinks NEVER alone, with friends, and ONLY to a nice "buzz". An alcoholic consistently drinks alone, buys drinks or insist their friends drank with them, and always wants the "pain" to go away. Their "drunk experience" was something they enjoyed and found fulfilling. If you get drunk, and like it, then I would seek counseling. If you get drunk, and realize it's just NOT your "thing" then you should be okay for a drink or two on occassion.
I don't like beer or much alcohol at all. I do go to a bar by myself locally alone. However, I do meet up with other single women in the "same boat" as I am. We don't drink much if at all and spend most of the time dancing and socializing. I may drank if someone is buying to be "social" but not to get drunk. I may "nurse" a beer (in my case Smirnoff Ice) all night with a glass of water. Drinking two drinks and keeping a glass of water available is enough for one of my "wilder" nights.
If you do drink, make sure you have some food on your stomach. Eat some crackers or breads to absorb the alcohol better. An empty stomach will get you drunker faster and irratate ulcers. DO NOT drink milk! Alcohol and milk do NOT mix as many people may tell you. Milk actually makes MORE acid in your stomach causing you to develop ulcers or bleeding ones. Rule of thumb: "Beer BEFORE liquor makes you SICKER" If your going to drink beer, then drink ONLY beer. If you drink wine keep to wine. If you drink liquor (shots) then do it before you start with the beer. You can do beer and shots together but you may not feel so well later. If you do drink too much, then go dance it off or get some fresh air and move around.
Drinking 2 glasses of wine a day is still okay. However, I would do it with a meal or before bedtime with a snack. Wine is good for you and does help your heart. I just wouldn't want to drink it without something in my stomach.
You can "drink" just don't think you need to rely on it or that it will be something to solve another issue. It's can be "fun" and "healthy" on some levels if you keep it there on those levels. You may want to "experiment" on your drinking level at first but try to do it with friends at home while watching a movie. Maybe have a "party" with your friends bringing different bottles of alcohol to see which one you would like. That way you can decide when you get to a bar what you may or may not like. :cool: It's much easier to have a "regular" drink lined up so you still can look cool and you know your limits on it. :cool: