People often choose to use alcohol as a means to deal with stress and life in general. Even with moderate use, you may not realize the impact this behaviour can have on your mind and body. Heavy users or addicts may be aware of the negative effects but the allure of temporary relief is too much. Understanding the impact of alcohol on your mind and body can help you make better choices. It can also help you find the strength to resist when surrounded by peer pressure.
Alcohol As A Coping Mechanism
Unfortunately, alcohol has become a coping mechanism for many people. It is a means with which to deal with social anxiety, get some sleep, forget problems, and much more. But these are lies that people tell themselves. Once the habit is part of your life, it is difficult to break. If you are addicted, you begin to make excuses to defend this behaviour. Like any other bad habit, it takes time to break it and replace it with a good habit. But if self care is truly what you are looking for in life, start by asking yourself why you consume alcohol in the first place.
If you are using alcohol to deal with social anxieties, then focus on improving your social skills and your self-worth. Do you believe it helps you sleep better? It’s doing the opposite. Replace it with activities that will help you wind-down at the end of the day, and prioritize optimizing your self care throughout the day. If it’s to forget your problems, get ready to confront them with the support of a therapist and your network.
Normalizing Consumption
Alcohol in some societies has been normalized as an activity when gathering with others. It’s been used historically across the world, so it does not get questioned. Unfortunately, for people who choose not to drink alcohol, they are often criticized or labelled as different, regardless of the reason. This can lead to exclusion from certain activities or it may even lead to pressure for them to conform. Some people just can’t wrap their heads around the choice to abstain and may continually ask why, making the situation uncomfortable for sober individuals.
Abstaining from alcohol use can be challenging. Some people drink regularly when they go out with friends, while attending events, including live sports, or special gatherings like weddings and holidays. Even at some workplaces it can be difficult to get away from this as often networking events and holiday parties normally include a complimentary drink or two.
Shifting Trends
In recent years, younger generations are changing their approach to alcohol. This shift in behaviour has resulted in more mocktails (non-alcoholic beverages) showing up on menus across restaurants and bars, as well as special events. By creating options that look as colourful and inviting as cocktails, it gives people more choices in social settings, while normalizing not consuming alcohol.
Damage Caused By Alcohol
Alcohol alters how you feel. For some, this is welcome as it can make it easier to confront certain situations, but it is a mask to not deal with underlying issues. This is easier to see when consumed in excess, but when it is a crutch, it’s even more important to take a hard look in the mirror. Is it really worth the impact to your mind and body? Alcohol can cause long-term and irreversible damage. And it goes beyond yourself.
Besides potential brain and organ damage, potentially leading to death, there is also a slower impact that can go unperceived. By choosing to consume alcohol, you also compromise your basic pillars of self care. Alcohol affects your circadian rhythm, impacting your ability to get restful sleep. This cascades into added stressors throughout the day. Alcohol can cause brain fog, making regular tasks difficult, including work. It can also impact how you behave, your mood, and your relationships. This will take a toll the longer the behaviour persists. Alcohol makes it harder for your body to function at peak, and this leads to not only a decline in overall immunity, it also increases risk for serious illness.
Under the influence of alcohol, you are more likely to take on riskier behaviours and have poor judgement. This is a risk to not only yourself, but others as well. Not only is the impact to your mind and body costly, the cost to your relationships is high as well.
Self-awareness helps you stop
Whether you drink regularly, binge every now and then, or just partake once in a while, the consumption of alcohol increases stress on both your mind and body. Even though it may feel good in the moment, the effects can be felt for days, and in severe cases a lifetime. Tune in to how you feel once the initial effect wears off. The more you do it, the more you will realize it isn’t good for you. The more self-aware you become and the more you prioritize self care, the easier it will be to change the behaviour.
Peer pressure to drink can be intense at all ages. Remember that just because others are doing it, it doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to keep drinking alcohol. This is your path to take, and ultimately your decision. Certain settings or situations can be triggers as well. Figure out if that is the case for you. By identifying what your triggers are, you can be better prepared to fight the urge next time, or even limit your exposure to them.
Deep down inside you will know if you have a problem. It’s hard to admit, but even harder to ask for help. If you, or someone you care about, are having a problem with alcohol consumption, reach out to a professional to begin a sober journey. There are also group addictions programs available in most major cities that are there to support you in your transition. You are not alone on this path.
Be proud to be sober
Even if you have tried to stop drinking in the past and failed, it does not mean you will not succeed next time. It takes time and commitment, and perhaps more attempts. But you are worth it. Once you stop relying on alcohol as a coping mechanism to make life better, you can focus on the important things in life – you. Making this shift will help you prioritize your well-being, both mentally and physically. It will be a time of growth, allowing you to prioritize your self care journey. It is critical for you to know that you will need people in your life that support you being sober. This may mean creating boundaries and ending some relationships.
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