Have you ever thought to yourself – “Why do I drink?”

Why do I drink?

It’s a question that countless people have probably asked themselves after feeling the pain of a long night of drinking. While many believe that in moderation alcohol can be harmless, it is important to really sit down and ask yourself why you are drinking.

There are plenty of factors (recovery resources) that may fit as reasons as to why you drink. The first would be peer pressure. It sounds silly that even as adults, we will feel the need to fit in with certain groups of people. If you are around people and friends who are partaking in something and don’t want to feel embarrassed or left out, you probably will join in. This is not a good reason to drink. Stick to your own beliefs. True friends would never pressure you to do something you do not want to do…especially if they are aware of your stance.

Another reason you may be deciding to turn to alcohol is emotional stress. In this day and age, it seems like the world gets flipped upside-down on a daily basis. Stressors from family, friends and romantic relationships all may play a part in why you turn to alcohol to deal with placing your stress on the back burner, if just for a few hours.

This again is definitely not a valid reason to abuse alcohol. Many people suffering from alcoholism started out drinking for these very reasons. And they will gladly tell you that all it did was amplify their stress and make their situation worse.

Financial difficulties are another reason why you may feel overwhelmed and turn to alcohol to ease your worries. When money seems to be sparse and the bills seem to pile up high, drinking seems like a reasonable escape. But remember, it is only a temporary solution and like the other issues mentioned above, you must understand that you are far from alone on these feelings.

So the next time you are feeling pressured or under some type of stress that is bound to come into your day at some point, stop and think ahead. Ask yourself “Why do I drink?” You will probably find that what you think are valid reasons are simply poor excuses in disguise.