How I Stopped Using Alcohol and Drugs at Parties When Everyone Around Me Was
She slid down my sunglasses to look me in the eye. I had seen her before. The atmosphere at hard dance festivals is upbeat, pumped, positive. Partygoers bounce around like owls on caffeine. Substances play a role in that. “Did you take drugs yet?” she asked me. As if it’s the most normal question in the world. At a different event, I bumped into this big, big bloke. We started chatting. His happy demeanor changed into contempt once he learned I hadn’t taken any substances at all. “You didn’t take drugs? WHY NOT? Why would you not do that?” Unimpressed, I raised my eyebrow. “Well, that’s my decision, innit?” The dude felt personally attacked and started to verbally bash me. I told him to just leave me alone and walked off. He forgot that the decision to put foreign substances into my body was mine, and mine only. How dare I.Lack of social skills. You don’t know how to hold small talk with strangers. People-pleasing. You’re a chronic people pleaser who does anything to avoid friction or negative responses. Peer pressure. And you’re a sucker for it. You neglect your real desires and let others drag you everywhere. When someone asks you to attend a party, you blindly say “yes.” Even when you don’t want to go. Lack of self-confidence. You don’t feel comfortable in your own skin and imagine others judging your looks, how you talk, and how you dance. You’re terrified of doing the “wrong thing.” You hate partying. The air is too thick, the floor too sticky, and the music too loud. You need booze or something else to numb the discomfort. Poor emotional regulation skills. You feel bad because of the above and “need” substances to numb the discomfort. Not being aware of what you truly want, and, as a result…
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