Why these beliefs matter
What we believe alcohol gives us affects when we drink, why we drink and what we expect from it.
If we still believe alcohol helps us relax, sleep, socialise or reward ourselves, part of us will keep seeing a reason to drink. We may know the downsides and still feel as though we're giving something up.
The Belief Bucket series looks at ten common beliefs about alcohol. Each article gives us a chance to think about the belief and how closely it matches our own experience.
Here are the ten beliefs covered in the series.
10 beliefs in one Place
Belief #1 – Relaxation (alcohol helps me relax)
Alcohol can create a short change in tension because it slows the nervous system. But that isn't the same as our body settling naturally, and the effect doesn't last. If tension or poor sleep returns later, that belongs in the picture too.
Read: Does Alcohol Really Help You Relax →
Belief #2 – Happiness (alcohol makes me happy)
Alcohol may give us a brief lift, but that isn't the whole experience. We also need to count what follows, such as lower mood, anxiety, regret or simply feeling flat the next day.
Read: Does Alcohol Really Make You Happy →
Belief #3 – Reward (alcohol is my reward)
We may have learned to connect alcohol with finishing work, celebrating or giving ourselves a break. The question is whether it still looks like a reward once we include the full cost rather than only the first part.
Read: Is Alcohol Really a Reward →
Belief #4 – The rosy effect (remember the good times)
Our memory can bring back the best parts of drinking more easily than the nights that went badly or the way we felt afterwards. That can make the past look better than it really was.
Read: The Rosy Effect: Why Alcohol Memories Mislead Us →
Belief #5 – Taste (alcohol tastes amazing)
We may genuinely like some flavours connected with alcohol. But it's worth separating the taste from the effect we learned to expect from the drink. Would we want it in the same amount if it didn't contain alcohol?
Read: Does Alcohol Really Taste Good →
Belief #6 – Social ally (alcohol helps me socially)
Alcohol may make us feel less self-conscious for a while. But we still need to ask what it added to the conversation and whether we were more present, more connected and happy with how we came across.
Read: Does Alcohol Really Make Us Social? →
Belief #7 – Sleep (alcohol helps me sleep)
Alcohol can make us drowsy and help us fall asleep. It can also disrupt the quality of the sleep that follows. Falling asleep quickly isn't the same as getting proper rest.
Read: Does Alcohol Really Help You Sleep? →
Belief #8 – Moderate drinking (our obsession)
Moderation can sound like a reasonable middle ground. But if we have to keep setting rules, watching the amount and thinking about the next drink, it may be keeping alcohol as the main focus rather than making it manageable.
Read: The Mirage of Moderate Drinking →
Belief #9 – Boredom (alcohol solves boredom)
Alcohol can change how boredom feels for a short time, but it doesn't give us anything meaningful to do. We still need ways of spending our time that we actually enjoy.
Read: Does Alcohol Really Fix Boredom? →
Belief #10 – The buzz (alcohol feels amazing)
The buzz is a real effect, but we still need to look at the whole exchange. How reliable was it? How long did it last? What did we have to drink to reach it, and what did that cost afterwards?
Read: Is Alcohol's Buzz Really Worth It? →
These beliefs matter because they affect what we expect from alcohol. Some might still feel completely true, some might feel true only in certain situations, and others might not fit our experience anymore.
If you haven't read the introduction, start there. Then choose any belief that stands out to you and read the full article.
— Brent