The Christmas season is in full swing, and so are adverts for alcohol, the sales of which will shoot up during the festive season!
Is it not the true spirit of the festive season to have quality time and share the spiritual energy with our loved ones?
Instead of encouraging the use of alcohol during the festive season, should we not be discouraging our loved ones from drinking too much?
We should be aiming to reduce the enormous costs to the National Health Service of alcohol misuse, as well as the social and psychological impact of excessive alcohol consumption on drinkers and their families.
Many of us turn to alcohol when stress strikes or on happy occasions. Think of the times you have heard or possibly said, “I need a stiff drink” or “let’s go for a drink and drown my sorrows” at times of stress or unhappiness.
Of course, alcohol also takes centre stage in times of joy and celebration, where it is not uncommon for people to drink too much and behave badly. It is time to question our relationship with alcohol. When someone is drunk, cannot remember the whole event, is sick, wakes up with a splitting headache and hangover that takes another whole day to clear, and then tells me that they had a brilliant time! This just does not make sense.
I am concerned by the lack of awareness of simple, healthier options. I believe the overuse of alcohol happens simply because someone cannot think of a better option, even though the dangers of excessive alcohol use are common and well known.
What are there alternatives?
Here is a list of 5 simple things you can do instantly instead of reaching for a bottle or can of alcohol.
Put on your coat and take a brisk walk for 10 to 20 minutes. If the weather puts you off, then do something physical in the house. Walk up and down the stairs. Walk or run on the spot. Tackle the physical housework and so on.
Grab a paper and pen and start writing how you are feeling instead of letting them fester within you. There are two ways to do this. (a) Free flowing writing – start by ‘I am feeling anxious/angry/ sad because …’ and keep writing without analysing what is being written. Just keep it flowing freely. (b) Write an unsent letter to whoever is upsetting you. This way, you can channel all that emotion out of your system without any repercussions. You often gain the clarity of your next step by letting it all out.
Search social media for relaxation and meditation techniques or listen to an app. Practice a few now and keep up with the ones that work for you whenever you are tempted to reach for alcohol again. You can find out more about these techniques HERE.
Pick up the phone and speak to someone you trust. In the absence of this, speak to someone at Samaritans, a free support line. You can also, if available, access an Employment Assistance helpline, if you have one at work, or use your medical/personal insurance. Keep this number handy and use it whenever you are tempted to drink.
Drive or walk up to a place of natural surrounding beauty. Nature is nourishing and has a mysterious way of enabling calm and clarity of mind. If you do not have the energy or inclination to do this, then download some natural images on your phone or computer and gaze into these. Save the ones you like for when you may be enticed to go for the alcohol again.
I have no issues with responsible alcohol intake, but it is a serious issue when it’s seen as the only way out of a stressful situation or when it is abused with serious implications on the workplace, society and environment.
It is time that we all, and in particular the media, did more to promote healthier alternatives to drinking in times of stress as well as celebration. For a start, let us see more famous characters on television using and emulating the five strategies above in scenes depicting distress or festivals. Let us start the dialogue in newspapers and magazines that will raise the public’s awareness of these alternatives.
Think about the rewards of doing so: Our National Health Service saves millions and there will be happier families that will not suffer the consequences of alcohol abuse.
It is not too late to turn the culture around and build healthier alternatives to coping at times of distress and difficulty.
About Hansa Pankhania and her team.
Our mission is to offer solutions for Stress Management, Sustainability and Success by sharing natural, holistic ways of enhancing body, mind and planetary wellbeing.
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