It’s 5am and I’m writing this before work. This one is gonna be different, but it’s not a lecture or to sound like I’m better than the rest. But I’ve noticed many folks have this belief that alcohol will somehow fix things. And honestly I’ve watched what alcohol does to folks who are already hurting for whatever reason, but the truth? It doesn’t fix anything. It just makes you forget for a few hours and then the pain comes back heavier. Now, I’m not an emo person but this can’t honestly be the only solution, right?

Let me be straight with you all with all the facts I could find. So, what exactly does heavy usage of alcohol do to your body? You already know it’s bad for you. But I don’t think you really understand how bad. Alcohol kills about 2.6 million people every year. That’s 7000 deaths every single day. Don’t believe me? Google is free.

And I understand why some folks drink when they’re sad. Alcohol slows down the central nervous system for them. It numbs the anxiety, the depression, the stress they have. For a few hours, everything feels softer and the pain fades into the background. But it’s a lie you’re feeding your mind. Alcohol doesn’t treat the underlying problem you face in this real world. You know, the actual problem you’re choosing to not focus on? It makes it worse. It’s what psychologists call “self-medication” and it’s one of the most destructive things you can do to a mind that’s already struggling. The relief is temporary but the damage is permanent. Almost 22 percent of people with anxiety disorders use alcohol as a coping mechanism. They think it’s helping. And guess what? It’s not. I don’t have anxiety disorder so I can’t feel that, but there’s 78 percent of people with anxiety disorders who also choose NOT to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. That should say something, right?

Anyone who truly cares would never make this your solution. I want you to think about something for me. If someone genuinely cares about you, would they hand you a bottle and tell you to drink your problems away? Real care doesn’t look like that, but someone who asks the hard questions and refuses to let you drown in something that’s causing this problem.

Fix the root of the problem.