File this under “Coping.”

Ok, first of all, don’t get the wrong idea. Drinking should always be done in moderation. You shouldn’t feel like you HAVE to have a drink to make it through the day. Obviously.

I’ve found that having a glass of wine or a beer or a mixed drink can make social situations (and other situations) a helluva lot easier. STOP THE PRESSES WITH THIS NEW DISCOVERY!!!

As someone who analyzes everything little thing I say and every little thing you say when we are having a conversation, getting loosened up by alcohol makes things easier. I don’t stress so much about saying something stupid. The words fly more freely from my mouth.

My social stamina is longer because I feel good about myself instead of thinking about how something I just said was dumb and that no one likes me. I expend less energy trying to say and do the right thing. That means I’m fun longer!

I worked in a cafe the other day that served beer. It was *amazing*. After one bottle of brew, I was typing on my laptop and the words flowed off my fingertips and I felt more creative. I wasn’t analyzing everything I wrote. I just wrote.

It was fun. I wouldn’t do it every day, but it was a fun sensory change. (Keep in mind I am self-employed. I would never do this when working for someone else.)

Someone who reads this without knowing me might worry that I sound like some kind of alcoholic. Anyone who knows me knows that I rarely drink and that I can barely drink more than two beverages before I cut myself off. I’m way too logical to drink too much. After a few hangovers, I learned that it sucked and I didn’t do it again. Also, the calories.

After my husband read this post, he said, “It sounds like you are saying that alcohol is a crutch.” OMG, it’s so super not!! I’m just saying, that for someone as tightly wound as me, who analyzes everything, it’s nice to have a break once in a while.