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The Elevator That Only Goes Down

Years ago, I read somewhere that booze is an elevator that only goes down. I think this is a fabulous analogy. And if this elevator only goes down, why wait until you reach the bottom before you get off? Things will only get worse, not better, as you continue down the drinking path. There is this widespread idea that if you don’t wake up in the gutter, you don’t have a problem. If you don’t need to gulp down the cheapest gin you can get your hands on first thing in the morning just to get out of bed, then you’re perfectly fine. But the truth is, you don’t have to be a textbook alcoholic to suffer from the ill effects of this incredibly addictive substance. It’s called grey area drinking, and it’s the limbo land between one glass of eggnog on Christmas Eve and checking yourself into rehab. It’s the place you’re at when you’re worried about your drinking, but still living your life normally (whatever that means). Where you realize that alcohol is negatively affecting you in some way, and you need to start cutting back. I wrote a blog post on grey area drinking, you can check it out here.

So, back to our elevator! If you’ve come to the uncomfortable realization that it’s only ever going to go down, you might as well get off now. The climb back up the stairs might be slow, arduous, and sometimes painful. However, you’ll likely start off with all the vim and vigour of a young antelope bounding across the savannah. This is the famous “pink cloud,” the early stage of sobriety where the last effects of your drinking have worn off and you suddenly feel amazing and full of hope and wonder. This stage can last for weeks or months, but it will inevitably end at some point. The realities of everyday life will see to that. And that’s ok. If you know it will happen, you can prepare for it. Climbing back up those stairs was never going to be easy.

At some point, you might think “I just can’t anymore,” and be tempted to get back on the elevator. You could. I did. If you’ve been trying to moderate for any length of time, you’ve likely done this repeatedly. The thing is, you’ll be going right back to the floor you got off on – if you’re lucky. Usually, though, you end up a couple floors lower than before, just to make really sure it doesn’t get better.

So off you get again, this time with a steely look in your eye and a resoluteness in your step that wasn’t there before. You’re better prepared; you’ve gathered the supplies you’ll need, and you know where to find the ones you may not have anticipated. You can take it one flight of stairs at a time. Stop and catch your breath, take a break from  the whirlwind of everyday life if you can. Rest, sleep, gather your strength, check your gear. Ask for help – and accept it. And when you’re ready, start climbing again. It won’t be far now.

And the view from the top, my lovelies, is breathtaking.