EXCESSIVE DRINKING

"Drinking helps me relax, but it has got to the stage now where I cannot unwind unless I have a drink. I have recently started drinking a lot more during the day. "

Alcohol can give great pleasure and make you feel more relaxed. Drink, in moderation, helps to oil the wheels of communication and can often enhance social gatherings. However, in excess, alcohol is an addictive and potentially dangerous drug. In times of great personal stress or emotional upset, it is not uncommon for people to turn to alcohol for comfort and often oblivion. However, although excessive amounts of alcohol can seem to help in the short term, you should try to avoid heavy drinking on a regular basis, as it does not help you to tackle the causes of your stress and is likely to create further, long-term problems.

The risk of becoming dependent on alcohol is high. The two warning signs are firstly when you turn to alcohol as a means of relaxing if you are under pressure, and secondly when you feel you must have a drink. There are no hard-and­ fast rules as to how much you need to drink before you can be considered to have a problem, but, generally, if you often drink on your own, rather than socially or at mealtimes, and if you are regularly drinking more than just a couple of drinks every day, and at unusual times such as during the morning, you should start to take special note and try to cut back.

Women tend to get drunk more easily than men, largely because they are usually smaller than men and weigh less. Women also have more fat reserves and a lower proportion of body weight in the form of water, resulting in a higher concentration of alcohol in their blood. In particular, research suggests that excessive drinking by pregnant women may irreparably harm the developing foetus.

Alcohol is a depressant type drug that slows down the processes occurring in the brain and dulls your reactions. After several drinks, your thinking becomes muddled, and your coordination is greatly reduced, making you clumsy. For these reasons, it is dangerous to drive or operate machinery after drinking, even if you think you feel normal. Alcohol can seriously affect your judgement, and under its influence, even the most level-­headed person can be persuaded to take risks.

Alcoholic drinks can also affect your mood. Social drinking is traditionally associated with being "merry" or "jolly", but if you are drinking because you feel stressed or are repressing feelings or anger, having "one too many" may cause you to turn uncharacteristically aggressive or emotional.

WHY DO YOU DRINK?

Be aware of why you drink alcohol. Add your own reasons for drinking to this list.

Ø       I drink because I am bored

Ø       I drink because it helps me relax .

Ø       I drink to gain confidence

Ø       I drink because I feel under pressure

Ø       I drink in social situations

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Besides having serious repercussions on your health and potentially reducing your lifespan, regular heavy drinking can also cause major problems in your family and puts a great strain on relationships. Mood swings and unpredictable, unreliable, and often irresponsible behaviour may trigger heated arguments and put family members under great stress. Excessive drinking also affects sleep patterns and often causes you to wake early feeling tired and unrested, frequently with a dull headache and a terrible thirst. If this becomes a normal pattern over a prolonged period, you may start to neglect your appearance and find it difficult to cope with the demands of everyday life at home and at work. This inevitably leads you into a vicious circle of stress, which you need to break.

CONTROL YOUR DRINKING