Reasons for drinking. So I thought I was a social drinker and I am to an extent, but more secretly and unbeknownst to me I’m a mood drinker.
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…everyone’s watching, red wine does not have the ability to turn you into a ‘Strictly’ dancer, well maybe one that gets booted out on week 1. Confidence, confidence, confidence: if you say it three times in front of a mirror at midnight will it suddenly appear? Probably not. It’s important to get in the right frame of mind before starting anything challenging.
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So the long term goal is to drop below 14 units a week and I’m currently sitting on 57 units a week. This seems like a lot, too much, too big a problem… is it a problem? I mean I’m not really hurting anyone, no one knows that I’m drinking too much, it’s normal if anything (I think a lot of my friends drink a comparable amount - do they ?).
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So what does my plan look like? Where do I start? I could just go for it, jump right in? It might work... but probably not. I know my willpower can let me down; remembering my ill-fated attempt to become a vegetarian, well-meaning and with good intention but essentially futile - succumbing in my second week to a roast dinner.
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Winter is here, the kids are back to school and the New Year is in. The coronavirus has been tough on us all and has forced us to change our lives in incredibly drastic ways. New routines have been made and old habits have been adapted or created to cope with all of the change.
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We have seen that parental alcohol use can impact the wellbeing of children and young people; and often the alcohol use is seen as the ‘elephant in the room’ that no one in the family talks about. The term ‘alcoholic’ can portray a stereotype that can lead to families feeling judged and stigmatised
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It’s getting ever closer to that time of year where a lot of us start thinking about what we want for Christmas. For many of us, the disruption and challenges of 2020 and Covid-19 have put this into perspective and our “letters to Santa” are more likely to include “time with my loved ones” at the top of the list rather than the latest kitchen gadget, slippers or bath bombs (still very much in my top 5, though, if you’re listening Mum…).
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The effects of drug and alcohol use combined with mental health in the family go well beyond the direct effects on the person using them. Families are affected by alcohol in many different ways; stigma, trauma, isolation and anxiety can all be caused when a family member drinks too much, this mixed with barriers to seeking help can make recovery very difficult.
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I was thirteen years old when I began drinking. Admittingly, this was once a bragging point. I was living in a rural farm town where this was the “normal” thing to do. Surrounded by friends next to a fire in the woods, I opened my first beer and took a sip.
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Picture this: You wake up at 6am after a broken night of sleep. Your partner got to bed at 2am and is still out cold, snoring. You get up to tend to the kids in the morning, make breakfast, make sure they’re washed and have packed their bags. The work day is hard as you’re tired and haven’t been able to settle your anxiety. You head home not knowing what your partner will be like. Are they drunk? Are they at home?
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