Does anyone else get triggered by movies where there is a party going on and friends and everyone in the movie are drinking? They’re just all playing drinking games and laughing and joking and flirting and having a good time? For me, even though it’s a movie, I ask myself why I couldn’t just be a normal drunk that throws up and passes out on a couch or more of a life of the party drunk . I just had to be Jekyll and Hyde:expressionless:
American pie is one of my favorite films and there all just throwing parties and acting a fool and no one is really doing anything out of character except stifler, who messes up and fixes everything all over again and everyone loves him
How do you feel when you see movies like this? Do you ask that same question to yourself?
I can only speak for myself. When I was drinking I had favorite reality shows I would watch. (They were drinking so I would “join” them. I can’t believe how stupid that sounds now).
Early in my sobriety I had to stop watching those shows. It was too much of a trigger for me.
I’m ok watching now. I just laugh at the stupid behavior and thank my lucky stars that I’m not drinking anymore.
Hugs to you
Our caveman brains are tricked easily by things we see on TV. We are wired to want to fit in with the tribe, and to mimic the behavior of others around us. Our subconcious cannot tell the difference between tv and reality, even though we know that it is not real consciously.
I am obsessed with the Kardashians show. It makes me feel like I have friends and family nearby when I watch it. And I feel like I have done something glamorous or got to hang out with the cool kids at school. Sounds pathetic, I know, but we are all doing this when we watch tv. I had to watch a lot of movies and shows about alcoholism when I first started this journey.
I used to feel this way big time. I wished i could just drink normally like everyone else. What i later realised is that this was just a sign that I hadn’t yet fully accepted that i can’t moderate or drink like everyone else.
As time went on, my identity changed and i went from being the guy trying to quit drinking, to the guy who doesn’t drink. Now when i see movies like that I feel pride in the fact i don’t drink, as opposed to wishing i could.
There are so many things that people who have a handle on alcohol still have to deal with. Hangovers, low mood following big nights, more risk of life threatening disease, spending more money etc etc.
The fact of the matter is with every artificial high comes a natural low. When you are sober the highs may not be as high at parties or birthdays or weddings, but the lows certainly aren’t as low. Us sober people are more chemically balanced, less anxious and more grounded.
Being sober has so many compound effects that don’t show for months or years, but if you stick with it, i promise you there will come a day where you feel so lucky to be a sober person, not tethered to any substance like the masses are.
All movies are a reflection of our society, as well as a reflection of the minds that make them. That’s one.
Another thing is many movies are sponsored by companies selling alcohol with their products -booze- strategically, subtelely and less subtelely being placed in said movies.
Many movies are made to push us to drink more. I feel it’s actually good you notice all the drinking going on. Annoying yes. Eye opening too. So much too learn.
And all these people in movies getting drunk again and again without any consequence except for a “funny” hangover? Well, it’s the movies right. Make believe.
Rewatched this recently. NC is a great actor but I still felt the reality of alcoholism was mildly portrayed. His reasons for seeking the ultimate out could have been explored more I found, and why he never sought to revise his plan. Otherwise, wonderfully bleak.
@CloudzBeBlue it sounds to me you’re still idolising the lifestyle alc promised to give you. By now you know that it’s a lie. Otherwise you would not be here. Work towards building a life where you need no false promises and no escape, because you’re actually invested in living that life, and you’ll be cured of your yearning when watching drinking movies. Best of luck!
I felt every sceen of it.sleeping in park o closet .lever disiz.heart operation.loosing love and… But the only difrent for me that cuse saving me from death was sport.meny years i was training like beast at morning and drinking like animal at night …finaly im hear to feel i belong somewhere.and thx to all peapole hear i will learn more.
This topic is near to my heart as well in recovery from porn. We live in a highly sexualized culture and in my early sobriety especially I would be hyper-conscious of that; even to this day I am wary and will often avoid media (shows, movies) that feature people I consider attractive in the thumbnails and ads. (That is totally my hangup I know and I accept that: it’s about me trying to set boundaries so my thoughts don’t sink into fantasy. Still though I think it’s fair to say that our culture tends to emphasize sex appeal as a primary way to get attention.)
The idealized image of alcohol in the media comes up pretty regularly here. Here’s a few good threads:
We live in a noisy world and I guess for us who are growing healthy, stable, sober lives, part of our work is maintaining our filters
You are absolutely right and I think it also has to do with not getting that college experience of going to parties and socially drinking because how that would turn out. It’s like I’m trying to get everything out of my system and in doing some, it leaves a gravely bad taste in my mouth and many others. Thank you for your feedback, very appreciative of your insight of how I can be better
Doesn’t sound stupid to me. I used to watch a few shows and think I was in some connection to the characters and en watching anything to do with drinking it was worse because I felt more of an urge to do that. We are getting better and doing better and in time those urges I have when I see someone drinking in a film will go away. Hugging you right back
Very true when it comes to human nature and wanting to fit in and belong and not feel like a complete pariah. I’ve never watched the Kardashians but I used to love watching Vanderpump rules and the real housewives, wishing I could be them or feeling like I was connecting with them in someway. The behaviors on Vanderpump rules were crazy but they were like a clique I really wanted to join. It wasn’t until I started watching below deck that I knew I didn’t want to be some of the drunk guest coming on the show and I thought to myself, wow is this how crazy I look to people if not worse.
Maybe I should start to watching recovery movies, this could be a good hope giver to me:blush:
We live in a world where drinking and alcohol are presented to us on a daily basis in movies, tv and social media. Alcohol is glamorize, it looks attractive, these companies want to lure us in. I personally find alcohol commercials difficult. My first thought is, that looks good I wanna taste that…then I remember oh wait, I can’t drink that I’m an alcoholic. I find myself turning off the TV now and finding better things to do with my time.
. I just had to be Jekyll and Hyde:expressionless:
