The Alcohol Trap

Alcohol is like a pitcher plant, (must be the reason for the term ‘pitcher). We start at the top, only having a couple of drinks socially, we don’t really like the taste, but the social situation seems to distract us enough from that, and cause us to associate the good feelings of being in the company of friends and having a ‘good ole time’ with the effects of the alcohol, even though, in reality, they have nothing to do with the effects whatsoever. Soon we slip further down the plant, due to this association, and require more drink to dull our senses into a state where we can trick ourselves with this same association.

The more we drink, the more we have to drink, like having a spot, and applying makeup to smooth over its appearance, all the while it is growing bigger underneath, and we require more makeup to cover it each time. Little do we know that just by stopping applying the makeup, the spot will naturally subside by itself.

The problem is that we think that there is some inherent pleasure in the substance due to our societal conditioning and subsequent feeding of our reactive mind. This remains the case until we wake up, and realize what the substance actually is, like the spot bursting through the cracks in the makeup. By that time, its usually too late, and our bodies have become physically dependent upon the substance.

Personally i do not believe in the classic label of the alcoholic, because there is no definite line that we can draw, as the resulting effect on the person suffering at the bottom of the pitcher plant did not arise through our typical misunderstandings of over indulgence. It usually happens in most cases through a slow and progressive slipping, as is the nature of the trap.

The pitcher plant is a good model, because we can observe in nature how insects at the beginning of the pitcher plant, can easily fly free having only sipped at some of the nectar. They may even come back and sip again occasionally and never fall prey to slipping all the way inside.

There is a good possibility using our innate human intelligence to realize, even in the bottom of the plant that the substance has no real grip, and it is only our conditioning and contrary understanding as to the nature of the substance that keeps us trapped in its grips. Our bodies can also recover, as the human body is a marvelous machine that can bear sometimes even the greatest of difficulties.

One the nature of the substance has been clearly ascertained, we can then systematically analyze our excuses for drinking, and our fauly views that have tricked us into the trap will naturally subside.

Through observing our minds, and understanding the sublte mentle reaction-associations that cause us to continue drinking alcohol, we no longer have to employ any volitional acts of willpower, or use any method that might work in spite of our own understandings.

This therefore is an easy way to quit alcohol for those who wish too, and we can start right away with a feeling of confidence and joy, relinqueshing the mind-split effect from battleing with our innate wisdom and common sense.