#48: Social Anxiety, Partying, and Me

A look at a not-so-healthy coping mechanism

Hello,

The holidays and end-of-year festivities are upon us, and at every party or gathering comes the question: “Can I get you a drink?” Today my response could go either way — I need to be in the mood to accept a cocktail or glass of wine. But when I was younger, my answer was quick and sure: “Um, duh!”

The following comic is based on one of the chapters in my upcoming memoir, which details how I relied on alcohol to cope with my social anxiety (and yes, it was one of the hardest essays to write. Unfurling shame is hard!). Though therapy and time have helped me build a much healthier relationship with drinking, it took me a while to get here.

Let’s time travel back to 2011 and I’ll show you what I mean:

See much more of the Partier here :)

Take care of your sweet selves — yes, even the parts of you that elicit self-criticism and discomfort and doubt. Especially those parts.