5 Reasons Why Music Industry Professionals Avoid an Alcohol Detox
A lot of people set the intention to cut out alcohol at the start of the year and partake in Dry January. Some of them see it through and others give up after a week or so. Do they lack discipline or is their timing off? People may have various reasons for avoiding an alcohol detox, often rooted in both psychological and practical considerations.
In this blog post, you can explore five common reasons why music industry professionals might avoid an alcohol detox.
5 common reasons to avoid an alcohol detox
#1 - Unawareness or denial of the severity
Probably one of the most common reasons to avoid an alcohol detox is the lack of awareness or denial about the severity of their alcohol consumption.
Some people may downplay the impact of alcohol on their health. They may not have enough knowledge of the impact and consequences alcohol has on their body, their physical and mental health. Or they may not fully recognize the extent of their dependency, delaying the decision to seek help. Even when it’s been pointed out by their general practitioner or other medical professionals.
Unless alcohol use forms an immediate threat to their health if for example liver problems acutely manifest or in case of an alcohol allergy, prompting people to quit right away. Intentionally choosing sobriety or limiting alcohol use is an intimate choice and personal decision which often is preceded by a long period of weighing out pros and cons.
And speaking of cons, in a social climate like the music industry, where most professional relationships are formed by socializing over drinks at networking events or nights out, one of the biggest cons is the societal stigma around the use of alcohol, or should we say, the lack thereof.
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#2 - Social stigma and judgement
The social stigma surrounding alcohol use disorders can be a significant barrier. Fear of judgement from friends, family, or colleagues may deter people from seeking help or openly acknowledging the need for a detox. The perceived societal stigma around dependency or addiction can contribute to feelings of shame and isolation.
Even though a lot has shifted in recent years, a lot of people are still met with disbelief or judgement when they say they don’t drink alcohol. It makes it harder to feel a sense of belonging among your peers or colleagues when you don’t drink. Being the only sober one as the night progresses and people get more lit, affects the quality of your conversations. Not that dicking around and just having superficial contacts is a bad thing. Relationships also are built around shared experiences and they don’t necessarily have to be deep. It’s more so that sobriety still does make it harder to navigate social interactions in the music industry.
And believe it or not, peer pressure is still prevalent. In my personal experience teaching music industry professionals about sobriety in the music industry, speaking about it at various conferences and facilitating workshops and peer support groups since 2021, I can tell you that there are still people who pretend to drink or take that shot they’ve been offered - only to toss it when nobody’s watching, just to avoid comments and criticism from peers.
I’ve been on my sober journey since January of 2021 and some of my oldest friends and longstanding relationships in the music industry still forget I don’t drink anymore or question my decision. It no longer frustrates me as I’ve come to terms with continued criticism because I know it’s not about me or my decision not to drink. It’s about them and how my more conscious lifestyle choice triggers them - consciously or mostly even subconsciously.
#3 - Dependency and fear of losing coping mechanisms
There are people who’ve come to rely on alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or other emotional challenges. I know that was me for the longest time, even though I did not fully realise it when I was still in the thick of it.
Alcohol and anxiety have a complex relationship. Alcohol can exacerbate anxiety and make it even worse. It interrupts your sleep, causes dehydration and makes you want to eat all the bad food groups all at once. It goes without saying that these factors are detrimental to your sense of mental well-being and your overall health and wellness.
Moreover, anxiety can also act as a vulnerability to creating an alcohol dependency. Because using alcohol to combat anxiety increases the risk of developing alcohol use disorder without even realising it.
But coming to terms with what I was using alcohol for and what it was like for alcohol to be in a relationship with me, something I journaled on extensively to unpack my relationship with alcohol, I had to admit there are other ways to deal with my anxiety and the pressures of working in the music industry. I wanted to find easy tools and healthy resources that don’t chip away at my quality of life.
What I know to be true is that the prospect of giving up this familiar crutch can be intimidating, as some may fear losing their primary means of dealing with life's difficulties. That drink or two to calm your nerves before a DJ set or to manage your social anxiety at a networking event. The liquid courage to loosen you up a little so you can engage and interact with the rapidly changing context whilst on tour, new city, new people, new unknown. Or the famous “hair of the dog” hangover cure, to drink alcohol to alleviate hangover symptoms. Especially when struggling with hangxiety, Beer Fear or Booze Blues, caused by a hangover, the guilt you feel about what may have happened and whether or not you’re wrecking your body.
#4 - Fear of withdrawal symptoms
Many who are more aware of the effects of alcohol, be it through personal or second-hand experience, are apprehensive about the physical and psychological symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal. Symptoms such as tremors, anxiety, nausea, and even seizures can be daunting, leading people to delay or avoid detoxification.
If this is where you’re at, consider talking to a medical professional before starting an alcohol detox.
You also might want to identify all the positive benefits from doing an alcohol detox. Knowing what you’re doing it all for can motivate you to take that step and stay the course.
#5 - Uncertainty about life without alcohol
For some, the idea of a life without alcohol may be challenging to envision. Some may question their ability to navigate social situations, cope with judgement, anxiety and/or stress, or how find enjoyment without alcohol, especially when you’ve been so used to it being present at music events, family gatherings, Tuscany wine tastings or - my personal favourite, spontaneous rosé all day terrace moments. The uncertainty about what life looks like after detox can create resistance to taking the first steps.
What can you do in order to embrace an alcohol detox?
First of all, show yourself grace and be careful not to default to negative self-talk or self-judgement. You are a perfectly imperfect human being and in a constant relationship with evolution. One day things will feel like smooth sailing and the other it might be as if you’ve crawled your way out of Dante’s 9 Circles of Hell. Don’t force yourself to do anything you’re not ready for. And at the same time, observe where you come up with excuses to not prioritise your health and well-being. Or where you're self-sabotaging your chances of enhancing your quality of life and your personal success through personal growth and professional accomplishments. We often block ourselves from success to protect ourselves from a perceived threat.
“Self-sabotage is a misguided form of self-love.”
Secondly, consider reading up on the effects of alcohol both short and long term. Get curious and gather knowledge so that you can make informed decisions for yourself. Journal on your findings to see how these apply to you and your own life’s experiences.
All this contributes to getting to know yourself better and whether or not you decide to go for an alcohol detox, more awareness about who you are and what makes you tick can always serve you in any area of life. So putting your investigative hat on is a good use of your time and energy no matter what.
Thirdly, if you are worried about your relationship with alcohol, please talk to your doctor about it. Or if that feels too intimidating right now, research available resources like anonymous chat services, helplines or walk-in centers in your town or nearby city.
Try to list all the things you can do and enjoy without alcohol, how you’ll navigate music industry social interactions, prepare for a night out without drinking, and come up with strategies to handle criticism or judgement. Preparation before detoxing can come a long way.
And as usual, take what you need from this blog post and leave the rest. You are the authority of you. You know what works best for you and ultimately, the choice is yours.
Have you ever done an alcohol detox and how did it go for you? Comment below!
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