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Am I Drinking Too Much?

If you have to ask yourself this question then the answer is probably yes. Yes, you are drinking too much.

I imagine you already feel that your drinking is getting to an unhealthy level and starting to negatively impact parts of your life. If you weren’t concerned about your drinking, would you even be asking yourself this question?

This does not mean you’re an alcoholic or even alcohol dependant. Although it does mean you need to take a look at your drinking, because it’s not making you feel great, right?

Now, what’s too much for one person is not necessarily too much for another. It all comes down to the way your drinking makes you feel.

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Fading Affect Bias

What is the Fading Affect Bias?

Simply put the Fading Affect Bias, or FAB as phycologist call it, refers to the way your brain will forget or fade memories associated with unpleasant emotions faster than memories associated with pleasant emotions.

Your brain’s ability to dampen a negative memory over time is a great coping mechanism but it can be a problem for the newly sober.

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Dry January

Dry January is the UK’s one month alcohol-free challenge. After all the excess of Christmas and New Year you may be ready to give up the booze for January also.

In the past, I have attempted Dry January many times but only managed to stay the course for about two weeks before I would make up an excuse to drink.

Heard of any of these?

“I’ve got a party to go to next week”

“2 weeks is enough time to detox”

“I’ll have a drink tonight and tag an extra day on at the end of the month”

These are all just excuses.

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Alcohol Awareness Week 2020

Alcohol Awareness Week 2020 will take place from 16 – 22 November 2020 on the theme of Alcohol and Mental Health. It is a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change and more.

Alcohol is the most widely available drug in the UK and it is used by many as a coping mechanism to manage their stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.

You may relate to this. A lot of people self-medicate with alcohol to get through life’s difficult situations.

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Sleepless in Sobriety

One of the fears holding people back from given up alcohol is the belief that they will not be able to sleep. They believe their nightly drink is needed to help them sleep.

When they do try to quit alcohol and struggle to get to sleep their belief is confirmed.  They are even more convinced they need that drink to get to sleep and subsequently start drinking again.

However, this is a myth. Alcohol does not help you sleep and I am going to explain why.

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Loneliness in Sobriety

It’s not uncommon to feel lonely during early sobriety or even years into sobriety. It was certainly the case with me. Loneliness is a negative emotion and can feel very isolating at times but remember there is a difference between being alone and loneliness.

I feel there are two main situations that can cause me to feel lonely.

  • Not talking to, or seeing friends and family very often or in a long while.
  • Being surrounded by people at a party or gathering, but I don’t feel I can relate to anyone there or I don’t feel understood, cared for, or heard.

I believe both these scenarios can cause loneliness as there is a lack of connection.

In early sobriety it is not uncommon to feel lonely. Think about it, you lose some drinking buddies, you don’t go to parties that may jeopardise your fragile early sobriety. You may have lost friends due to your previous drinking antics. You may not have anyone to confide in who understands your decision to quit drinking or you may be hold up at home getting your bearings, trying to figure out this whole sobriety thing. Whatever your reason for feeling lonely, I think this article can help.

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