Writing about your reasons why you drink, what happens when you drink, and reasons why you’d like to cut back are much more helpful than just thinking about them. Journaling helps you push through denial, which sounds good, but can be difficult and scary in practice. Take your time and be gentle with yourself. Here’s a post I made on
AVOID TEMPTATION When you start a healthy diet, one of the first rules would be to not buy junk food to keep in the house. The same goes for booze if you’re limiting your consumption. Avoid stocking up and pay attention if you feel the need to stock
up as this is a warning sign of a bigger problem. If you associate drinking with events or activities like vacations, Christmas parties, or simply taking a bubble bath, be creative and think of other ways you can enjoy those things that don’t involve booze. FIND SUPPORT If you’re questioning your drinking or feel like it has gotten out of hand, reach out for help. That can be your doctor, a therapist, a friend, family, online support groups, or local organizations. You don’t have to be falling down drunk in an alley with a brown paper bag wrapped around a bottle to be a candidate for help. You are worthy of support at any stage. If you feel youneedadviceor support and someone tells you “you’re not an alcoholic because you [fill in the blank]”, you’re now equipped to know that risky and problemat- ic drinking is more nuanced than whatever that person’s idea of a problem is. No one on this planet knows your thoughts and feelings better than you do. If you feel you need support for your drinking you are right. You are capable of living a healthy and happy life and you are stronger and more resilient than you realize. Alcoholism can run in your family all it wants, but you have the power to stop it in its tracks. You have the power to get your life back. You are worth it.
who you’re choosing to spend your precious time with. Are your friends only interested in patio drinking by day and clubbing by night? Consider spending less time with them or seeing if they’d be up for finding alcohol-free activities. DRINK SLOWLY Saying “don’t binge drink” is easier said than done, but it is certainly possible for most people. Binge drinking can first show up in the “risky” level 2 of the alcohol-use spectrum and is defined as consuming five or more drinks in two hours for men and four or more drinks for women, with the intention of getting drunk. To avoid this, switch out alcoholic drinks for non-alcoholic drinks or slow your pace. PUT IT IN WRITING Journaling is such a powerful tool when sorting through thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
KEEP YOUR USE IN CHECK The good news is that with some monitoring, self-awareness, and the desire to better your life, you can reduce your risk of reaching prob- lematic and disordered use. Now that you know what is considered a drink, pay attention to your consumption amounts. Listen to what that voice inside your head says when you take the last sip of booze. Learn to feel your emotions to gather clues about your drinking. Here are some tips that can help you keep your use in check: LIMIT YOUR TIME SPENT WITH DRINKERS It can be challenging to make new friends as an adult, but if you find your friend circle is soaked in booze, finding people who don’t or rarely drink can help with your consumption. They say you are who you spend time with so look around to
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021
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