This is not a post to encourage nor discourage people to drink, it is up to the person himself after all. I suppose I am still right in thinking that the older generation in Hong Kong still associate alcohol as something for guys or misbehaving teens? If not, at least in a traditional family then, unlike in the western world. Correct me if I am wrong, but many teens want to be cool by drinking, some then gradually get addicted. For some time, I tried to get myself to chill out and to get a good night sleep by drinking, because I was feeling depressed for so long.
這個帖子不是鼓吹或者是勸阻大家喝酒，喝與不喝畢竟是個人選擇。我猜我思想正確的話，我是可以相信香港的長輩們應該還是會將酒想成是給男人們的，或者是不很乖巧的年輕人才會喝的。如果我想錯的話，那起碼這想化會在傳統的家庭裏保留著吧，雖然在西方社會又是另一回事了。如果我錯了就請糾正我，不過很多年輕人會覺得喝酒會顯得有型時尚，其中一些就可能對酒精慢慢地上癮了。有一段時間，我會喝酒來讓自己放鬆和有良好的睡眠，因為我已有長時間感覺抑鬱了。
I did drink sometimes and not a lot for fun in some social occasions, when I went for a night out with friends, but I could never be classified as a regular drinker yet. It was when I studied in France that I would drink in order to face the days to come. Not only I would drink when I hanged out with friends to pubs and clubs, when I struggled with completing my homework and revision, I had to get a bottle from the supermarket to get the guts to continue with my work. When I got insomnia, again, I drank to put myself to sleep. When something did not go well, I drank. Whenever I got upset, I drank to be self-motivated.
我以前會出去社交活動就有時喝一點酒，但也不會太多，例如說我和朋友們晚上出去玩，但也不會可以將自己就說成可歸類在經常喝酒的那類別。我是在法國生活的時候開始會以喝酒來讓自己可以面對未來的日子。不只是我和朋友們去酒吧和club才喝，我在做功課和溫習時處於困境，我不得不從超級市場買瓶酒回家喝去有膽量繼續我要做的事情。我失眠，我又再喝去讓自己可以睡著。當事情不順利，我又喝。每次我傷心，我也會靠著喝酒去自我激勵。
To be honest, it helps me to make it through that year, but the true force that allowed me to make it through that year in France was to hold on to my religious faith and my constant prayer. I guess people always saw me regularly when I lived in France must have thought that I was ok, as I took some time out to do travelling and other activities. This is what depression is about. No one really knows that I was already quite depressed when I lived in France. This is why I urge people to pay close attention to those around them, even that person is always cheerful in front of the crowds and in front of anyone. You can pretty much wear a mask in the public very well when you are depressed.
老實說，酒有幫助我渡過在外那年，但真正的力量是來自於我堅持自己的宗教信仰和常常禱告。我想那些我在法國生活時常和我見面的人一定認為我沒什麼事，我明明甚至有去旅行和參加其他活動。這就是抑鬱症。沒有人真的知道我在法國生活時已經挺抑鬱了。這就是為什麼我呼籲大家仔細觀察身邊的人，即使那些人在人群中或所有人面前都常常開朗。當你抑鬱，你就是可以在公眾場合內成功戴上一個假面具。
The ratio of me actually enjoying the drink itself or for socialising purpose, against needing it as a temporary depressant that year, is actually 20%:80%. During that period, I still got regular emotional breakdown, although I did not have suicidal thoughts or acts. I eventually became a depression patient in late 2015. As mentioned, I became suicidal.
那個我真正享受那酒精飲料或是因為有著社交目的，去對比我用酒去作為暫時的抗抑鬱藥，其實是20%:80%。在那段日子，我仍然定期情緒失控，只是沒有自殺想法或行為罷了。我最後在2015年末成為抑鬱症病人。如我提過，我當時喜歡上自殺。
The body’s tolerance to alcohol varies from one person to another. For me, I am able to stop drinking almost completely since I left France, and then not even one drop of alcoholic drink since I began my medication for my clinical depression. You can google it, but it is said that alcohol increase the chances of people getting depression, so I suggest not to go down my route.
每個人身體對酒精的承受能力不同。我自己來說，我自從離開法國就差不多沒喝多少，開始了服醫學上的抑鬱症藥物，我已滴酒不沾。你可以谷歌一下，但酒精可說是增加患上抑鬱症的機會，所以我建議不要走我的舊路。
Back to business, so, I am gonna end this with a little patronising tone: peeps, you are welcome to drink, but watch out on how much you body can take. Quoting from my psychiatrist, drinking coffee (to the limit of 1 cup per day) helps, you may consider this depressant as your alternative. After all, the best protective factor against depression is to exercise regularly.
回到本身今次的主題，我會用一點點語重心長的語氣說 :各位，你當然可以喝酒，但注意自己身體說可以承擔多少。覆述我精神科醫生的話，喝咖啡(每天一杯的極限)幫助情緒，所以你可以考慮說以咖啡來做你抗抑鬱藥的選擇。畢竟 ，對抗抑鬱症最好的保護因子是經常運動。