Have a Drink

This one is going to get me into some trouble, but it's an important lesson my doctor taught me that actually works on my anxiety, thus meeting the exact criteria for this 30-day challenge. If you have a problem with alcoholism, please ignore this. This was for me.

I once told my doctor that one of my favorite things about the winter is that I cook for the family, sometimes elaborately. I enjoy a beer or two, or a glass of wine (since going carb-less) while prepping the dinner. It's how I wind down from stressful, gray, cold work days.

In the dead of winter, I can do this almost every weekday that I’m at home.

This worked so well on my anxiety and made my family so much happier to be around me, that it started to get me worried: what if I made a habit of this and became dependent on this small vacation every day of my life? I went on to overthink it and talk for 10 minutes about the worst possible outcomes.

He stopped me.

"Does it help your anxiety?"

Yes.

"Then have a drink."

He went on to explain that (at least in my case) worrying about it was worse than any likely issues I would face.

My wife backs him up regularly, "You need a drink."

Your mileage may vary. You may be depressed and less likely to obsess over the repercussions of such things, and adding alcohol to that situation is a disaster. And all those studies about moderate drinking being healthy are bunk.

But, if you're like me, anxiety is the primary beast and nothing settles that beast for me quite like slow-cooked, braised pork shoulder on a frigid day with a spicy Malbec.