Whether your glass of wine is the perfect compliment to your gourmet meal, or it’s the perfect way to wind down after a long day with the kids, everyone has reasons for when and why they choose to drink. Some of the most common reasons for drinking are ones that not only increase the risk for addiction, but also make matters worse in almost every case.
Reason #1: I Need to Loosen Up!
It’s been a long week at work, you’ve earned yourself a break, and you feel like you have so much more fun when you’ve had something to drink. Or maybe you’re heading out for a night with the girls or guys, you’re a little on the shy side, and having a couple of drinks makes you feel like you’re part of the group. It may feel like drinking helps you lower your guard and have a little fun, but the actual result is often the opposite of fun. Along with those lowered inhibitions comes impaired judgment and risky behavior.
Reason #2: I Need a Pick-Me-Up.
We all have down days and it’s not uncommon for people to try and ease sad feelings with a little sip of the good stuff. The problem is that while alcohol may make you feel disconnected and less concerned at first, the long-term effects will be opposite. Alcohol is a depressant; it intensifies feelings of depression and anxiety. We actually end up on the other side of a drink feeling more sad than we did before we drank.
Reason #3: I need to wind down.
Many people are in the habit of having a drink in the late evening as part of their bedtime preparation routine. It’s true that a drink can make you feel more relaxed and drowsy, which are the perfect conditions for falling asleep. The problem is that alcohol isn’t a good match for staying asleep. Alcohol disrupts the REM cycle of sleep, which means that when you’re supposed to be getting your most high quality rest, you’ll be sleeping restlessly. Some people wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep after a drink, and alcohol makes insomnia worse. Opt for a healthy bedtime snack or some warm milk as a replacement for alcohol in your bedtime routine, and you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed.
Reason #4: I’m so stressed out!
A particularly frustrating day can leave us reaching for a drink in order to ease the tension, but this plan always backfires. Alcohol makes your brain foggy and dulls your reflexes and responses. You need a clear head and a calm mind to deal with stress which alcohol just cannot provide. Instead, you’ll find that your problems are still waiting for you at the bottom of that drink, that they’ve probably only gotten worse, and that you’re less equipped to deal with them. Exercise is a better cure for stress, since it eases tension, releases feel-good endorphins, and makes you stronger all around.
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