Myzen, if alcohol (ethanol) was a new drug, and it was being considered for approval, it would not make it past the most preliminary of trials. The toxic and adverse effects are so well known, it's hard to find a part of the body that is not negatively affected.

Alcohol is culturally accepted, and it falls in with other things that "we've always used". What amazes me is that distillers and brewers are not required to publicly acknowledge all of the harm alcohol is associated with. When you see alcohol advertising, do you see battered spouses, children with PTSD, crushed vehicles, innocent victims of fires caused by inebriated smokers or those trying to cook a meal? Do you see listings of liver disease, bleeding disorders, diabetes, permanent brain damage?

I need not belabour the point, I hope. The fact that medications are statistically associated with certain adverse outcomes does not mean you'll get those effects. I can virtually guarantee what will happen to your body if you keep drinking.

I really do understand self-medication. I used to drink five bottles of wine, every night. I smoked enough marijuana for three lifetimes. Etc.

The thing is, those things don't help in the long term. They leave you worse off than what you were like going in.

There are many approaches you can use to treat your distress, and many of those are not prescription meds.

Alcohol can be adaptive. It can relieve stress, and reduce social anxiety. But, there comes a point when there is more negative than positive. That's when it becomes maladaptive.

Geez, I hope I don't sound preachy. I've had far greater success treating my own mental health issues with nutrients than I've ever had with prescribed drugs. That said, I do use those drugs, but only as little as I have to. And I don't have to use them all the time because of all the other things I do.

I'll shut up now.

Lar