Wow, somehow, yet again, Time has managed to push my buttons for all the wrong reasons.
Why Nondrinkers May Be More Depressed
Let me preface this by saying I don’t drink. I don’t drink for 2 reasons:
1. I can’t for medical reasons.
2. I choose not to.
So, for those of us that do not drink at all, I give you the one finger salute on this article Time. Now, the rant commences.
“But if alcohol can lead to depression, does that mean abstaining from alcohol will make you happier? A new study suggests that the opposite actually tends to be true. In fact, those who never drink are at significantly higher risk for not only depression but also anxiety disorders, compared with those who consume alcohol regularly.”
I call bullshit. I don’t drink and I’m perfectly happy. And my liver and stomach are perfectly happy too.
“The study, which was published recently in the journal Addiction, looked at more than 38,000 people in Norway. Researchers, led by Jens Christoffer Skogen of the University of Bergen in Norway, asked the participants how much they had drunk in the previous two weeks; the research team also asked them various questions to measure their levels of anxiety and depression.”
Do the study in America, the UK or other parts of Europe and I’ll believe it. Granted there are lots of studies and we take them with a grain of salt, but every culture is different, and last I checked Norway isn’t the United States or UK or anywhere else.
“The most powerful explanation seems to be that abstainers have fewer close friends than drinkers, even though they tend to participate more often in organized social activities. Abstainers seem to have a harder time making strong friendship bonds, perhaps because they don’t have alcohol to lubricate their social interactions.”
Wow, I have great friends and friendship bonds. I don’t need alcohol to do anything, and I am probably not the only one. I, again, call bullshit. I could say more in here about people that use alcohol for various reasons, but I will refrain as the purpose of this post is not to insult, but merely point out where Time and the study are on crack.
“So does this mean we should all have a cocktail? Maybe, but [insert stupid researcher name here] says he doesn’t believe his study should encourage abstainers to become drinkers. Rather, he says doctors might want to investigate why abstaining patients don’t drink and explain that in societies where alcohol use is common, not drinking may lead them to feel left out. Sometimes, you should just say yes.”
Are we all a bunch of alcoholics in this country and elsewhere? I mean, really? Do we all have to drink to meet people and have a good time? It sure sounds like it to me.
I know quite a few people that don’t drink and have just as much fun as those that do. I tailgate for UT football games, I don’t drink, and I have a blast every time.
So, find a study done in America Time, then write an article about it. A study done in Norway does not necessarily apply to those of us in the US or anywhere else for that matter. Not to mention, as this was not mentioned in the article, everyone’s different. And I mean everyone regardless of religion, background, race, color, etc.
