To Drink, Or Not To Drink?

Let's start this off by saying that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependancy are two entirely different things. This is going to focus on abuse and how often our community relies on alcohol for the wrong reason, at the wrong time.

I remember coming home from a brutal shift on the ambulance when I was still quite junior in service. A shift where I had what was by far the worst and most intense call I had attended up until that time. I was affected by it, but I sure as hell didn't know what to do about it. I went for a run, that didn't help. So after talking to Chels for a little bit and she had gone to bed I figured I might as well crack a bottle and have a couple drinks. Yeah, not a big deal. As expected, those couple drinks turned into the entire bottle. I actually remember pouring a glass later in the night and thinking "WTF am I doing?". I was lucky, and this was a one off experience for me, but for some this could have been a stepping stone down a real rough path.

The only reason I drank that night was in an attempt to deal with what I felt like after that call. An onslaught of emotion I didn't want to, and didn't know how to be with. I had heard some of the senior guys mention that they have a few drinks after tough shifts so I figured it would help. After all, that's what they do in all the movies and tv shows right?

Did it actually help? Fuck no, of course not.

Can you use it to temporarily mask/cover up something. Hell yes, unfortunately.

I'm lucky in that Alcohol doesn't really do that second part for me, so it makes it far less tempting to become a habit. Sadly that's not the case for an overwhelming number of first responders out there.

It's unfortunate, but I'm comfortable saying that more than half the first responders I know, openly rely on drinking to combat their stress. I've even heard peers recommend to other peers that they should just go home and "drink it away" after shift.

We have to be smarter than that.

I want to reinforce and respect that when drinking becomes a dependancy, the option on whether to drink or not is no longer a choice, but becomes mandatory for the body/psychology. I'm speaking to those where the option is still strickly a choice. When given the opportunity, we simply have to make better choices than that.

I suggest listening to Andrew Huberman's recent podcast on alcohol consumption for some good, easy to consume facts on how it affects the body, and how "drinking it away" simply doesn't work.

So when is drinking a good choice?

Some might say never, but I'm not in that boat entirely.

Moderation of course, but when you get the chance to celebrate with good friends and let loose? Absolutely! As long as you make that choice knowing that your sacrificing some aspects of your health/immune system for the short term enjoyment and you're good with it, have at it!

By all means, enjoy it, but if you're making the choice to avoid something, to bypass an emotion, or because you're bored, then obviously that's not the right choice.

We're all adults here, no shame, judgment, or preaching intended, but we're all smart enough to know that drinking cannot/should not be used as a tool for stress defence.

Want some options on what to replace that drink with? Let's talk here.

If drinking has gotten to the point where it is no longer a choice for you, please reach out. I've seen it, and I promise there are resources/ways to get your feet back under you. You don't have to do it alone. If you want help accessing those resources, I'm happy to help however I can.