Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A psychotherapist has given a ‘relatable’ analogy which could provide insight into whether your relationship with alcohol is healthy or not.
For those who are taking part in Dry Jan, the end is in sight!
But for some, sobriety is something they partake in all year round.
For a number of reasons, abstaining from alcohol can have a positive effect on the body and the mind. But have you ever questioned your relationship with booze?
Psychotherapist Veronica Valli has revealed the healthiest way to think about alcohol – but she warned it could make some viewers ‘angry’.
A psychotherapist revealed how ‘normal’ people view alcohol. (Instagram/@veronicajvalli)
Taking to Instagram, she said: “A ‘normal’ person, the way they view alcohol, is the same way I think about sandwiches.”
The expert continued: “So I might think today, ‘oh I’ll have a sandwich for lunch, that’s nice’ and I enjoy it.
“Tomorrow, I might have a salad, the day after I may have some soup.”
Valli further explained that she may be going to a party on the weekend, and if a plate of sandwiches swings by, she may indulge in one or two.
She added: “And then a bit later, the plate of sandwiches goes by again, and I go ‘no thanks, I’m good’.
“That is literally how much I think about sandwiches.”
She compared this to the amount a ‘normal’ person thinks about alcohol.
Explaining the meaning behind her analogy, Valli said: “It is the thinking about drinking, the thinking about not drinking, that arguing with yourself.”
She noted how these are all red flags which could indicate a complicated relationship with alcohol.
The psychotherapist added that thinking about who will notice you drinking is another cause for concern.
And people in the comments were quick to agree with her theory.
She compared how she thinks about alcohol to sandwiches. (Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty)
One said: “Completely agree. The sandwiches don’t do anything outside of provide a bit of enjoyment and satisfaction. They don’t believe they NEED the sandwiches.”
Another user added: “Just so relatable. My every thought was consumed by alcohol. Three years sober today.”
“As an alcoholic in recovery, I cannot comprehend how normals just don’t think about alcohol,” a third noted.
Another user had a similar experience, and added: “The amount of headspace alcohol took up for my entire adult life is extraordinary. And now since I’ve been silver for over 2 years.”
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image
Topics: Alcohol, Food and Drink, Mental Health
Mia Williams
Dementia expert reveals exact age you should quit drinking alcohol
This might make you want to extend Dry Jan…
Many of us are currently at the start of Dry January, with the aim of ditching the booze for an entire month to feel a bit better after the Christmas festivities. But this warning from a dementia expert might make you want to extend your booze hiatus…
According to neurologist Dr. Restak, drinking alcohol in later life can have several health implications that some people aren’t aware of.
In his book How To Prevent Dementia, he details exactly what age people should put down the booze as well as the benefits of doing so.
While alcohol can obviously be damaging to memory, the doctor also noted that the reason why you drink is important too.
He said: “Ask yourself, ‘why do I drink?’ If the answer is ‘because alcohol helps me to elevate my mood and lower my anxiety,’ you may be at some peril, and it’s probably best to stop altogether.”
Dry Jan is in full swing. (Oscar Wong / Getty)
There’s also a specific type of dementia that is only caused by over-consumption of alcohol.
It’s known as Korsakoff’s syndrome, and the neurologist explained: “It is marked by a severe loss of recent memory and results from the direct effect of alcohol on the brain.”
So, when should you stop drinking alcohol?
He recommend that 65 is the age where people should totally rule out drinking, but doing so earlier is only going to have a positive effect.
The expert noted that the age is key due to the chances of falling.
He said: “The death rates from falls is increasing, especially among elderly men.
“You are already afflicted with other contributors to falls, such as a decline in strength, muscle atrophy, balance issues, and the taking of medications.
There are numerous side effects. (Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty)
“In that case, drinking alcohol may be especially dangerous.”
What are the benefits of quitting alcohol?
Of course, some people will currently be choosing to take part in ‘Dry Jan’ – a whole month of sobriety.
As well as improving their general wellbeing, however, many who take part are hoping to see one particular side effect of rejecting a tipple for an entire month, after several people who took up the challenge in previous years raved about the drastic improvement that the trend made to their life.
As well as seeing a reduction to their mental health woes – particularly anxiety-related frustration – some claimed to have seen a huge reduction in their professional stress too.
Some also admitted they’ve been spending significantly less money by only purchasing zero percent beverages or soft drinks, while others boasted about feeling considerably less aches and pains after going sober.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Food and Drink, Alcohol, Health
Mia Williams
Doctor warns there’s three types of people who should never drink alcohol
Love Island’s Dr. Alex George has explained why these people should avoid drinking, especially around the festive season.
A doctor has explained why three types of people should avoid drinking alcohol.
With Christmas fast approaching, people may be considering drinking more booze during the festive period, perhaps as a way to survive through work parties or awkward family reunions.
And according to a new study by the charity Drinkaware, 64 per cent of UK drinkers intend to drink more alcohol over the Christmas period than they normally do.
However, in a message shared on social media, Dr. Alex George has warned against drinking for three types of people.
He captioned the post: “Alcohol is so engrained in our society, and especially the festive period.
“I’m all for having fun and embracing Christmas, but when I paused to notice how often I was drinking during this time of year, it shocked me. It’s everywhere — at every social or work event, and every family get-together.”
People often drink more around Christmas time, according to a recent study (Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images)
Addressing his two million followers, the former Love Island contestant said: “First of all if you have ADHD, drinking alcohol if you have ADHD is like pouring petrol on a fire it makes the impulsivity worse, a lot of the symptoms we don’t want are heightened and it numbs all the good things.”
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (often referred to as ADHD) is a type of neurodiversity that affects people’s behaviour, the NHS explains, as people with ADHD may have trouble concentrating and can seem restless. They may also act on impulse.
Research on the link between alcohol use and ADHD has suggested that people with ADHD may experience alcohol’s ‘detrimental effects’ after consuming less alcohol compared with people without ADHD.
The second type of person who should consider avoiding booze is those with low mood or depression because it is a depressant, as Dr George says: “If you drink a couple of nights a week over a period of weeks and months that can cause depression in your brain. It suppresses the brain’s good energy and good feelings.”
Dr Alex George says these three types of people need to look at their alcohol intake during Christmas (Instagram/@dralexgeorge)
Depressants affect the central nervous system. Alcohol is one, and it can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain and affect your feelings, thoughts and behaviour, Mentalhealth.org.uk explains.
Alcohol affects the part of the brain that controls inhibition, which may initially make you feel more relaxed, more anxious and more confident than you do when you’re sober. However, these effects quickly wear off, and the chemical changes in the brain can soon lead to feelings such as anger, depression or anxiety.
The more you drink, the greater your tolerance to alcohol becomes, which means you may feel the need to drink more alcohol to get the same feeling.
Charity Drinkaware says reducing or stopping drinking can improve your mood and mental health.
Finally, the third type of person mentioned by Dr. Alex is those who feel ‘stuck’ when trying to achieve your goals and aspirations in life.
He said: “Alcohol can block us from being the person that we could be and realising our true potential. Give it a try for six months and you might just see a difference. It made a difference for me.”
If you’re worried that you’re drinking too much, there’s support available. Find out about your options. Drinkline, a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else’s. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm).
Featured Image Credit: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images
