Thinking about drinking?
| | We associate drinking with enjoyment and celebrations, and “special occasions”. In fact, people drink for a variety of reasons, mostly to wind down and relax, but also so that they feel more confident and, amongst other things, to make it easier to meet and get to know people. Often, however, it is in order to feel better when bored, lonely, anxious, depressed or stressed and to forget about problems. Unfortunately, the stimulant effects of alcohol (and other substances) are temporary and, in the long term, worsen the feelings that are trying to be avoided, as alcohol acts as a depressant.
| | | Is it OK to drink when you’re pregnant? | | It is recommended that pregnant women limit their drinking to one or two standard drinks per week during the first 8-12 weeks, and preferably none at all. The largest cause of neurological damage in children is prenatal exposure to alcohol. Consequences can include attention and memory deficits, hyperactivity, poor problem solving skills and difficulty learning from consequences, poor judgement and impulse control, and difficulty with abstract concepts (such as maths, time and money) and, in most severe cases, by facial abnormalities. Remember: A few drinks can last a lifetime!
| | So how do you know whether you have a problem? | | The experts recommend drinking no more than six standard drinks (if you’re a man) and four for a woman at one time in one session; more than this, incidentally, is classed as a binge. Tolerance, however, varies greatly between individuals, and drinking less than this may be a problem for some people. Problem drinking is characterised by a compulsion to continue, a loss of control, and continued use despite adverse consequences.
If your drinking is affecting areas of your life covered by the four L’s you may have a problem: Liver: Health can be affected – this can include blackouts, recurrent stomach problems and chronic diarrhoea, hypertension, morning shakes, insomnia, anxiety and depression, as well as accidents incurred while drinking. Lover: Are other people suggesting there might be a problem – partners, parents, friends or colleagues? There can be an increase in aggression, muddled thinking and forgetfulness, and people can begin to neglect their responsibilities to partners and children. Communication problems and sexual difficulties can be both a result and a cause of heavy drinking in both men and women. Legal: This can include drinking related accidents, driving offences, disorderly conduct, and assault charges. Livelihood: Performance or attendance at work or school can be affected and financial difficulties may result.Over time the use of alcohol can progress from being important psychologically to being a mental and physical need.
| | So what can you do? | | Before you can break a habit you have to become aware of it; hence the first step in cutting down or stopping is to simply watch what you do – keep a diary of how you are feeling, when, where, who with and how much you drink, and the consequences. This will give you to see patterns in your life. If you’ve decided to make a change, tell someone about it! People are much more likely to stick to a decision if they have told someone about it. Slow down by pacing yourself; in other words plan how much you’re going to drink. Things that others have found helpful include having a non-alcoholic drink inbetween alcoholic ones, putting your drink down rather than holding it all the time, having smaller sips, doing something else eg playing darts, changing drinks to something less familiar. Learn to relax in order to reduce anxiety and feel more in control. Take some regular exercise. Find other ways to cope with boredom – develop other interests. See your GP or ask for professional help. Do the DrinkCheck questionnaire at www.alac.org.nz, visit www.alcohol.org.nz , phone the Alcohol Helpline on 0800 787 797 or Alcoholics Anonymous on
0800 AA WORKS (0800 229 675)
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| - depression - alcohol & substance abuse - work related problems | | - anxieties, fearful states, obsessions and compulsions | | - adjustment problems in chronic illness, including pain management | | - child & family problems - eating disorders | | - relationship & interpersonal concerns - dementia | | - sexual dysfunction - post traumatic stress disorder, including physical, | | emotional & sexual abuse - intellectual & memory concerns | | - stress management - neuropsychological assessment & rehabilitation |
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