Skiing and partying

[JmckR]

I hate talking about this in person, but I want to get it off my chest so I thought why not spill out my guts on NS. Gonna be a long one, so thanks to anyone who bothers to read it.

Long story short, about 3 years ago, at 21 years old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. To this day, I still treat it as the worst thing that's ever happened, and likely will, ever happen to me, It ruined my life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

The good news is that it's now controlled and has been for the last 24 months or so. I can drive, go swimming, ski alone and generally live a normal life as long as I take my meds every day.

The bad news is that my seizures are caused mainly by dehydration and exhaustion. This means I can't drink alcohol and I get pretty paranoid if I go more than (roughly) 18 hours without sleep.

As everybody knows, skiing and apres-skiing go hand in hand and you can't avoid it, wherever or whenever you go skiing. It honestly depresses the fuck outta me that I can't join in the mad partying with everyone else like I used to be able to. I did a ski-instructor course in Canada last year and loved skiing day in day out, shredding hard. But it completely fucking sucked watching everyone getting drunk and generally having a sick time, whilst I sat there with my coke, and then heading back early- cause let's face it- nobody stays out past 11pm sober haha. Also in BC, weed is legal so it's just everywhere, and I feel like such a killjoy when not joining in. I hated it

All I wanna do in life is ski, it's where my heart it, but I don't know if I can do another season feeling that level of depression almost every single night, living in a ski-resort is meant to be fun, right? One of my worst fears is coming across as boring to other people.

(On the upside, I of course save a shit load of $$$ not drinking and never missed a day shredding because of hangovers)

Anyone experience anything like this, or advice?

Thanks for reading, James

 

[theabortionator]

Why can't you smoke weed? Don't people smoke weed, edibles, oil whatever for epilepsy?

 

[weedoo]

One girl I went to high school with said she was allergic to alcohol, she never drank at parties but still enjoyed herself. Honestly op as sucky as you might feel, alcohol and weed is very overrated imo, I just feel shitty everytime I binge drink afterwards but thats just me

 

[JmckR]

Why can't you smoke weed? Don't people smoke weed, edibles, oil whatever for epilepsy?

I know what you mean. Everyone is different, for some it’s the cure, for some it’s the opposite. For me, I’d rather not take the risk messing around

One girl I went to high school with said she was allergic to alcohol, she never drank at parties but still enjoyed herself. Honestly op as sucky as you might feel, alcohol and weed is very overrated imo, I just feel shitty everytime I binge drink afterwards but thats just me

I spent a fair few years drinking and partying away before my life changed, so I know what I’m missing out on, that includes the horrible hangovers- which I of course do not miss! You can certainly enjoy yourself on a night out without booze, but only up to a certain point. I should know, I do it every weekend. It’s shit.

 

[weedoo]

I know what you mean. Everyone is different, for some it’s the cure, for some it’s the opposite. For me, I’d rather not take the risk messing around

I spent a fair few years drinking and partying away before my life changed, so I know what I’m missing out on, that includes the horrible hangovers- which I of course do not miss! You can certainly enjoy yourself on a night out without booze, but only up to a certain point. I should know, I do it every weekend. It’s shit.

Word homie, just kinda starting to figure out life is more than just drinking and partying, ya know?

 

[JmckR]

Word homie, just kinda starting to figure out life is more than just drinking and partying, ya know?

Fully agree with you bro, hence just wanting to shred every day, all winter long, and then every winter after that. Just can’t stand coming across as a buzzkill during the evenings.

 

[iced]

yes dude I get you

I don't usually drink/smoke ever as I am a total uncontrolled jackass and have no restraint. I have running through other highschools high and woke up with pins in my ass (bets created by me). just because you aren't drunk doesn't mean you cant party. learn to juggle ski boots or some party trick and you can have a good time.

 

[Chubz.]

as I am a total uncontrolled jackass and have no restraint..

lets party some time

 

[Titus69]

Can always just forget about partying, I mean alcohol isn't the best thing to binge on anyway. If it was gonna be a good day to be up early my friends and i would always lay low and not go crazy so we wouldn't ski like shit. I still always prioritize skiing over most things.

My friend has seizures where he blacks out and he has a med card and says it helps a lot, have you tried using weed in any way? I imagine cbd helps too but that don't get you litt.

 

[profa_212]

Partying is lame

But my room mate has epilepsy. He's fine and I haven't noticed it change him much. He still drinks here and there and smokes weed. Like you said though....different for everyone

 

[Non_State_Actor]

Are there any straight edge skier groups? Why not just a get really hardcore into something that isn't detrimental to your health? Meet some fun people who don't focus their fun behavior around alcohol. They're out there, you're not alone in abstaining from alcohol.

 

[JmckR]

Can always just forget about partying, I mean alcohol isn't the best thing to binge on anyway. If it was gonna be a good day to be up early my friends and i would always lay low and not go crazy so we wouldn't ski like shit. I still always prioritize skiing over most things.

My friend has seizures where he blacks out and he has a med card and says it helps a lot, have you tried using weed in any way? I imagine cbd helps too but that don't get you litt.

I know, like mentioned beforehand, it was truly awesome never missing a day skiing purely because I was hungover.

Nah, never want to risk any drugs. Couldn't afford to lose my driving license again if I was to relapse

 

[JmckR]

Partying is lame

But my room mate has epilepsy. He's fine and I haven't noticed it change him much. He still drinks here and there and smokes weed. Like you said though....different for everyone

Yeah to 9/10 people I don't even bother telling them, it's embarrassing. There's no side affects from my meds so you'd never know that I was suffering from it. I've just claimed that I hate alcohol and would rather ski. But yeah, it does make me come across as a killjoy.

 

[JmckR]

Are there any straight edge skier groups? Why not just a get really hardcore into something that isn't detrimental to your health? Meet some fun people who don't focus their fun behavior around alcohol. They're out there, you're not alone in abstaining from alcohol.

Rather than getting highs from drugs and alcohol I get my kicks from skiing hard the next day, trust me, I'd love to find some mates that saw it the same way.

 

[SofaKingSick]

i feel ya man but you're 24? don't worry, the number of people giving a shit whether you party is going to start dropping like crazy. your 20s are amazing cause everyone gets more comfortable in themselves and stops worrying about other people's shit so much

youre past the hardest part man!

 

[reeski]

It sucks to not drink and feel left out I feel you. But........ its not the end of the world some of the coolest people I know don’t drink. You just need to find who you are, you’re a little different than everyone else and thats cool. Everyone respects the people who don’t drink and have a good time. Don’t spend so much time thinking about the one little thing you can’t do. My two cents

I hate talking about this in person, but I want to get it off my chest so I thought why not spill out my guts on NS. Gonna be a long one, so thanks to anyone who bothers to read it.

Long story short, about 3 years ago, at 21 years old, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. To this day, I still treat it as the worst thing that's ever happened, and likely will, ever happen to me, It ruined my life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

The good news is that it's now controlled and has been for the last 24 months or so. I can drive, go swimming, ski alone and generally live a normal life as long as I take my meds every day.

The bad news is that my seizures are caused mainly by dehydration and exhaustion. This means I can't drink alcohol and I get pretty paranoid if I go more than (roughly) 18 hours without sleep.

As everybody knows, skiing and apres-skiing go hand in hand and you can't avoid it, wherever or whenever you go skiing. It honestly depresses the fuck outta me that I can't join in the mad partying with everyone else like I used to be able to. I did a ski-instructor course in Canada last year and loved skiing day in day out, shredding hard. But it completely fucking sucked watching everyone getting drunk and generally having a sick time, whilst I sat there with my coke, and then heading back early- cause let's face it- nobody stays out past 11pm sober haha. Also in BC, weed is legal so it's just everywhere, and I feel like such a killjoy when not joining in. I hated it

All I wanna do in life is ski, it's where my heart it, but I don't know if I can do another season feeling that level of depression almost every single night, living in a ski-resort is meant to be fun, right? One of my worst fears is coming across as boring to other people.

(On the upside, I of course save a shit load of $$$ not drinking and never missed a day shredding because of hangovers)

Anyone experience anything like this, or advice?

Thanks for reading, James

 

[JmckR]

i feel ya man but you're 24? don't worry, the number of people giving a shit whether you party is going to start dropping like crazy. your 20s are amazing cause everyone gets more comfortable in themselves and stops worrying about other people's shit so much

youre past the hardest part man!

Thanks mate, I see where you're coming from

It sucks to not drink and feel left out I feel you. But........ its not the end of the world some of the coolest people I know don’t drink. You just need to find who you are, you’re a little different than everyone else and thats cool. Everyone respects the people who don’t drink and have a good time. Don’t spend so much time thinking about the one little thing you can’t do. My two cents

Appreciate the kind words bro.

 

[SofaKingSick]

Thanks mate, I see where you're coming from

Appreciate the kind words bro.

also, if youre okay with it i'd just tell people the truth, that you can't drink because of a medical thing. something short and sweet so that you can tell drunk people in a loud bar easily haha. 99% of people will obviously respect that and move on

but i think your post also speaks to a larger different question of ski town culture. i liked partying and all when i was a ski bum but i got sick of it too. even if you love drinking most people don't want 50% of their life to revolve around it. ski towns are kinda notorious for not having a ton to do beyond sports and partying. so what im saying is that it's totally chill to not drink, but you might be right to question whether that's where you want to live.

i was very happy to get back into real life and have some structure and only party occasionally. maybe that's something for you, or maybe you want to look for a ski town that also affords you a more normal structured life or at least more activities and scenes to get into. that might mean being somewhere where your commute to the mtn is a little longer but other stuff makes that more than worth it

 

[eheath]

Just give it a few more years and your friends will get older and will party less. Find yourself a nice girl, pick up a hobby and keep shredding dude, not being able to "party" shouldn't be ruining your life. Sure, drinking with your friends is fun but its a slippery slope when you get older, you already have a nice leg up on everyone and when you're in your 30s with a good job and potential a nice women your life, you wont envy those who are still getting BOD every weekend.

 

[theabortionator]

I know what you mean. Everyone is different, for some it’s the cure, for some it’s the opposite. For me, I’d rather not take the risk messing around

Damn that sucks, what did it do when you tried it?

As far as the no drinking thing, I went a year + twice after head injuries without drinkingI think the one was 1.5 years with half a corona somewhere in the middle. Even when I started drinking again it was a beer, like 1 every few weeks. Was over two years before I even really caught a buzz, and a good 2.5 or so before getting drunk.

The one time I was going to a lot of concerts and music festivals. Trying to get people to understand that I didn't want a beer was pretty tough. I got used to not drinking, but some people don't like to take no for an answer when offering a beer. Had to just accept a couple and give them to friends.

Idk, drinking is fun, and I really love a good beer, but their are better things in life. As other mentioned, people will generally start partying less as they get older. So it won't be like, everyone goes drinking every day and you can't go.

Good to hear you don't really have any side effects. Good luck with the dome!

 

[DirtYStylE]

Just tell everyone that you don't drink or smoke as a personal choice. It's a personal choice that most people respect. Drugs are bad... Also, you have friends that are going out and getting drunk several times a week? Sounds like alcoholics. When I go on ski trips with my buddies we will have a few casuals and then drink heavy maybe one night. Staying out past 11 is highly overrated even when you don't ski the next day. The older I get the more I appreciate the mornings.

Anyways I know what its like to be sober around a bunch of drunk people. Every now and then I volunteer to DD. I have just as much fun because drunk people are really entertaining especially when you start instigating shit. I think you could start being a DD for friends and they would just love you for it. But yeah not joining the smoke circles is really awkward. You don't join them and your sitting alone, you join them and its awkward when someone keeps trying to pass to you. I don't really have any advice for this, besides just to not let it bother you.

You can always tell your friends that they are boring for going out and drinking all the time. Theres is tons of other shit to do after skiing.

 

[OregonDead]

Look at the plus side you have a pretty iron clad excuse not to drink. Personally I don't want to ski after drinking but I'm with you I feel the peer pressure when everyone else is having a beer. I know that it makes me worse at skiing and I've seen the effect on people I was skiing with. I watched people that never ever fall have one tall beer at the summit and then crash and slide down a chute on the next run. Yeah I can ski fine after a beer but not quite as good as before. Anyways coffee etc. keeps the fun going longer and cans of beer seem to make people ski less and just hang in the parking lot more.

 

[JmckR]

maybe that's something for you, or maybe you want to look for a ski town that also affords you a more normal structured life or at least more activities and scenes to get into. that might mean being somewhere where your commute to the mtn is a little longer but other stuff makes that more than worth it

Never thought about it quite like that, maybe that is the right thing to do. thanks man.

Just give it a few more years and your friends will get older and will party less. Find yourself a nice girl, pick up a hobby and keep shredding dude, not being able to "party" shouldn't be ruining your life. Sure, drinking with your friends is fun but its a slippery slope when you get older, you already have a nice leg up on everyone and when you're in your 30s with a good job and potential a nice women your life, you wont envy those who are still getting BOD every weekend.

Been trying to find myself a nice girl for 24 years now haha. Doesn't seem to be getting easier!

Damn that sucks, what did it do when you tried it?

As far as the no drinking thing, I went a year + twice after head injuries without drinkingI think the one was 1.5 years with half a corona somewhere in the middle. Even when I started drinking again it was a beer, like 1 every few weeks. Was over two years before I even really caught a buzz, and a good 2.5 or so before getting drunk.

The one time I was going to a lot of concerts and music festivals. Trying to get people to understand that I didn't want a beer was pretty tough. I got used to not drinking, but some people don't like to take no for an answer when offering a beer. Had to just accept a couple and give them to friends.

Idk, drinking is fun, and I really love a good beer, but their are better things in life. As other mentioned, people will generally start partying less as they get older. So it won't be like, everyone goes drinking every day and you can't go.

Good to hear you don't really have any side effects. Good luck with the dome!

Not smoked once since diagnosis so never found out which one I was. Sorry to hear about the head injury, that sucks. Thanks man.

Just tell everyone that you don't drink or smoke as a personal choice. It's a personal choice that most people respect. Drugs are bad... Also, you have friends that are going out and getting drunk several times a week? Sounds like alcoholics. When I go on ski trips with my buddies we will have a few casuals and then drink heavy maybe one night. Staying out past 11 is highly overrated even when you don't ski the next day. The older I get the more I appreciate the mornings.

Anyways I know what its like to be sober around a bunch of drunk people. Every now and then I volunteer to DD. I have just as much fun because drunk people are really entertaining especially when you start instigating shit. I think you could start being a DD for friends and they would just love you for it. But yeah not joining the smoke circles is really awkward. You don't join them and your sitting alone, you join them and its awkward when someone keeps trying to pass to you. I don't really have any advice for this, besides just to not let it bother you.

You can always tell your friends that they are boring for going out and drinking all the time. Theres is tons of other shit to do after skiing.

My friends don't drink every week, I meant that every night in a ski resort is a Friday/Saturday night really! Always something going on.

It's been 3 years and i'm still slowly learning how to deal with being the sober one on nights out and when people are smoking, I still find it difficult. I'd offer to be DD but I drive a 2-seater haha, a bit selfish of me maybe lmao.

Look at the plus side you have a pretty iron clad excuse not to drink. Personally I don't want to ski after drinking but I'm with you I feel the peer pressure when everyone else is having a beer. I know that it makes me worse at skiing and I've seen the effect on people I was skiing with. I watched people that never ever fall have one tall beer at the summit and then crash and slide down a chute on the next run. Yeah I can ski fine after a beer but not quite as good as before. Anyways coffee etc. keeps the fun going longer and cans of beer seem to make people ski less and just hang in the parking lot more.

Yeah I know full well what you mean. I can guarantee I wouldn't be half the skier I was today, if I was still able to drink. I got so much more time on the hill than if i'd been able to drink.. cause I used to be a lightweight and suffered from terrible hangovers aha.

 

[JmckR]

Appreciate all the comments everyone, you guys rock

 

[theabortionator]

Not smoked once since diagnosis so never found out which one I was. Sorry to hear about the head injury, that sucks. Thanks man.

It's all up to you obviously, but I think it'd be worth looking into or giving it a while. I've never really studied the subject but I don't think I've ever really heard of any crazy reactions other than weed in general.

I'm def not one of those, eat some kale and smoke a blunt and your healed people, but I don't think it would harm you. But that's my internet 2 cents. Yeah thanks, brain still kinda sorta works so that's good.

 

[iced]

lets party some time

lets

you bring the drinks ill bring the poor decisions & pins

 

[WoFIowz]

As many people pointed out above, you don't needs drugs or alcohol to have fun at a party where others are intoxicated. I personally feel more fit in if I partake, which is such a shame. I do know plenty of people who are social butterflies and have a blast whether they're fucked up or not.

As for cannabis..... Your risk is exceptionally low. Perhaps ask your neurologist if he thinks it would be OK to use, if you're really worried about it. I certainly understand you not wanting to risk your license if you were to have a seizure. I will add that I've never heard of someone having a seizure from marijuana, except in rare poisoning case reports (the poisoning reports aren't rare, so lock up your drugs people. The seizures are rare) of kids in Colorado getting into their parents edibles and who knows what else. Marijuana is known to have neuroprotective effects against seizures. I did a quick Google search for marijuana causing seizures and all I could find is "K2/spice" caused seizures in mice in high doses. Spice/K2 is not marijuana as we all know. It doesn't mention seizures anywhere on the CDC, FDA, Medline, or DEAs website for marijuana. I would still ask your neurologist because depending on what drugs you are on, and how often you would be consuming cannabis, it could alter their metabolism. If it were me, I'd go for it.

**This post was edited on Feb 7th 2018 at 4:40:04pm

 

[Titus69]

Not to add more peer pressure but if your state allows it OP, get a med card, through your doctor it should be like $50 and you could give it a legal shot. You could have access to clean and quality flower, and even good cbd products that could help I'm sure.

Doesn't have to be a way to "catch a high" like skiing, it can help improve your daily life, literally think of it as a prescription med and use it when you need it. My friend who has seizures has a card and he said it's reduced down to like 1-3 blackouts a month and is doing well. he was out of school all the time, but has other illness shit.

Don't feel the need to if you don't want to, i can respect that, just saying don't knock it til ya try it.

 

[GnarshoSapian]

This is a bummer OP, but it's the hand you've been dealt. Consider yourself lucky to have an outlet like skiing. Many people don't have the kind of passion for something like we do.

Maybe find new friends, get off the beaten path and into the Backcountry, and enjoy never being hung over.

At 25 my urge to party and the satisfaction that I get from it is so much less than it was at 21 or 22. You may be misremembering and elevating this thing that you now can't do.

There is so much more to life. You can still partake too, you just won't be slurring your words, accidentally spitting on people, and trying to kiss chubby redheads.

 

[WoFIowz]

Not to add more peer pressure but if your state allows it OP, get a med card, through your doctor it should be like $50 and you could give it a legal shot. You could have access to clean and quality flower, and even good cbd products that could help I'm sure.

Doesn't have to be a way to "catch a high" like skiing, it can help improve your daily life, literally think of it as a prescription med and use it when you need it. My friend who has seizures has a card and he said it's reduced down to like 1-3 blackouts a month and is doing well. he was out of school all the time, but has other illness shit.

Don't feel the need to if you don't want to, i can respect that, just saying don't knock it til ya try it.

I think OP is in Canada so he good

 

[GayWolf420]

dont worry about it dude, just ski for the love. no need for substance when you are just skiing and loving it all.

i personally love having a few cold ones while skiing, maybe a doink or two, but sometimes you're just not feeling it and wanna just rip. i dont drink most of the time skiing but definitely stoned for sure. i got a really bad ankle i fucked up a few years ago that gets sore even just from putting my boots on so i try to at least remediate the pain with a joint or even my gpen.

 

[GayWolf420]

and i get into a reallllly great zone with music in both ears and just feeling your skis and having nothing but you, yourself, the fall-line in front of you, and just nothing but time to ski and enjoy it all.

 

[JmckR]

This is a bummer OP, but it's the hand you've been dealt. Consider yourself lucky to have an outlet like skiing. Many people don't have the kind of passion for something like we do.

Maybe find new friends, get off the beaten path and into the Backcountry, and enjoy never being hung over.

At 25 my urge to party and the satisfaction that I get from it is so much less than it was at 21 or 22. You may be misremembering and elevating this thing that you now can't do.

There is so much more to life. You can still partake too, you just won't be slurring your words, accidentally spitting on people, and trying to kiss chubby redheads.

Sounds like a plan mate! Yeah haven't made a drunken mistake for a few years now so that's a good thing.

I think OP is in Canada so he good

Sadly not, living in the shitty, rainy UK right now and hating it. Hence wanting to get back out to Canada but not sure what to do with my life. Also been waiting for an Canadian work visa for the best part of 18 months now but still haven't been offered one.

dont worry about it dude, just ski for the love. no need for substance when you are just skiing and loving it all.

i personally love having a few cold ones while skiing, maybe a doink or two, but sometimes you're just not feeling it and wanna just rip. i dont drink most of the time skiing but definitely stoned for sure. i got a really bad ankle i fucked up a few years ago that gets sore even just from putting my boots on so i try to at least remediate the pain with a joint or even my gpen.

That's fair enough, I'm okay to enjoy a couple of beers every other day or so but wouldn't risk anymore than that! Enjoying a beer or two after skiing in the sun is the perfect way to end a sick day shredding.

and i get into a reallllly great zone with music in both ears and just feeling your skis and having nothing but you, yourself, the fall-line in front of you, and just nothing but time to ski and enjoy it all.

I miss that more than anything right now, I've got to get back out there asap!

**This post was edited on Feb 9th 2018 at 5:22:50am

 

[JTTrembles]

I'd consider giving weed a try, maybe paired with a good meal and a coffee?? Regardless you shouldn't need substances to have a good time.

 

[JmckR]

I'd consider giving weed a try, maybe paired with a good meal and a coffee?? Regardless you shouldn't need substances to have a good time.

Maybe one day.

Agreed you don't need substances to have fun, would just be nice to have the choice

 

[Titus69]

I'd consider giving weed a try, maybe paired with a good meal and a coffee?? Regardless you shouldn't need substances to have a good time.

You have a good point, but this is more than just trying to get high and do stoner shit, this could help reduce the amount of events OP would have, therefore bettering his life. If OP doesn't wanna get high, at least try some quality cbd products cause that can help.

 

[Twinjibber77]

I love drinking for a buzz/drunk a couple times a month, certainly not as much as I used to in my early 20's. From like 22 on I met more people than I ever had in my life who didn't drink, but still went out. If you're worried about what others think then it's on you, but if people are incessant dicks about it, then you need some new friends (this is a medical issue).

I feel you about the apres ski and I don't have any good advice beyond what people said above. I never grew up around it, so it's really the only time now that I rage.