Alcohol Awareness Week
Alcohol & Me
Every year in November there is a week dedicated to raising awareness of alcohol and the effect it has on individuals, families and communities. Alcohol is a substance that has become so ingrained in society that it is difficult for people to recognise that their habits might be risking their health. Alcohol continues to be a major public health concern.
This year’s theme for Alcohol Awareness Week is Alcohol and Me. We wanted to take the opportunity to look at the root of why people pick up a drink and take the first sip.
How many times in your day is alcohol casually mentioned as a solution to stress or an aid to having a good time?
We designed a short 5 question survey and asked our Twitter and Facebook followers and colleagues to answer questions on what types of stress caused them to drink alcohol, and if it helped in the short and long term… The results are in.
51% of people admitted they drink alcohol due to stress, and when asked what type of stress last caused people to drink the top 4 stressors were:
- 24% due to family issues
- 22% because of work related problems
- 22% due to relationship issues
- 14% because of money concerns
No one is immune to stress. 85% of the UK adult population experience stress regularly (1) and research has shown that 43% of adults find it difficult to switch off from work with a massive 67% still focused on work issues when they come home (2). The trick is finding a healthy way to deal with it.
The Stress Bucket
Imagine everyone is born with a bucket that they carry around with them. Stressors like change, bereavement, jobs, family and relationship stress fill that bucket up over time. The key is to find healthy and effective ways to put holes in your bucket to release stress before it overflows.
Some people choose alcohol to deal with stress, and while it may allow you to relax in the short term, in the long run it can become an unhealthy coping mechanism which could lead to dependency. 41% of our survey responses reported that drinking helped relieve stress in the short term but only 7% said it helped in the long term.
So how do we deal with stress so it works for us, not against us?
How to deal with stress in a healthier way
We asked our coaches what they recommend to help tackle stress and they came back with some great tips.
1. Firstly work out what is causing you stress.
Once you identify your stressors you can start to work towards tackling them.
2. There is no universal fix for stress.
Identify your own personal self-soothing strategies. Ask yourself: What has worked for me in the past to help combat stress? These may include meditation, talking to a professional, confiding in a close friend or relative, having a hot bath or exercise.
3. Create a goal and stick to it
Figure out how you’re going to proactively manage your stress. Your goals could be to avoid alcohol when stressed, go running 3 times a week or mediate for 5 minutes a day. Writing goals down on paper helps you remember and commit.
So what happened to the other 49%?
Not everyone drinks due to stress so we wanted to have a look at a few more reasons why people may choose to drink alcohol.
- 52% of people said they drink alcohol for the taste
- 17% drink for the feeling alcohol gives them
- 16% drink as a habit
There are lots of different things that can be easily done to change particular drinking habits.
1. If you drink because you enjoy the taste of alcohol, there are great non alcoholic alternatives that taste just like the real thing.
2. If you drink as a habit or routine, we always recommend you see your GP or local health service before making the decision to suddenly stop. If you turn to alcohol to escape, try and figure out what is causing you to drink in the first place. Sorting out the root problem and finding healthier ways to deal with them will help you drink less.
Everyone is different. This Alcohol Awareness Week people are being asked to reflect on their personal relationship with alcohol. If you need additional support we offer face to face skype coaching sessions.
We are offering 30% off all appointments booked during Alcohol Awareness Week to help you make some positive changes to your drinking.
Use promo code AAW19 to get 30% off when booking at drinkcoach.bookinglive.com
“Encouraging and positive approach. I have made changes in last 2 weeks I could not make in last 2 years. I will keep going and feel positive about future”
Our online coaching sessions are a professional, convenient and confidential way to discuss your drinking and receive expert guidance from an alcohol treatment specialist. Bookings can be made at a time that suits you, including evenings and weekends, with the sessions available anywhere you have a Skype connection. All of our coaches are trained and experienced alcohol workers.
References:
1) https://www.forthwithlife.co.uk/blog/great-britain-and-stress/
2) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145855.php