A young lady has completed her annual physical exam, blood-work, mammogram, and the once over. A week later she receives a call from the Dr’s office while she is at work. The message is cryptic, Dr needs to see you to discuss the results of your mammogram immediately. The young lady asks for more information only to hear on the other end of the line, I am sorry, the doctor needs to discuss this with you. The doctor can see you tomorrow at 3pm. The young lady thinks to herself, “WTF, I need to wait for more than 24 hours worrying”?
After a few tears in the ladies room, she requests to leave for the day due to a medical emergency. She will not be in work tomorrow as well. On the walk to the train she stops in a liquor store for a pint of her favorite vodka and a bottle of wine. On the train ride home she drinks the pint filled with worry, fear, anger, and thoughts of the big “C” that will take her life like it did her mothers.
She arrives home half in the bag and continues to drink herself to sleep. She awakens the next morning, well actually in the afternoon and worries some more. At three o’clock she meets with the doctor only to learn that she must retake the exam due to a malfunction with the device. The doctor assures her that there is nothing to worry about in fact the mammogram appeared normal by the technician it simply needs to be retaken. Of course, the lady is relieved but not thrilled with the idea of smashing her breasts once more against this archaic machine, but relieved to say the least!
On her return home she stops at the liquor store for a liter of her favorite vodka and a bottle of wine to celebrate!
If you relate to this story or one that is similar in nature you may want to rethink your response to adversity. Although alcohol can relax you, the over indulgence of alcohol can turn against you. Does reacting to adversity by getting drunk indicate that you are alcoholic? Not necessarily however, it is a pretty good indication that there is something wrong. If you are concerned about your drinking. If every positive feat, negative challenge, the weekend, hump-day, TGIF, etc… must be met with a drunken celebration you may want to seek help.
