Have you noticed that recently you’ve been drinking a little too much? Maybe you’ve been having two glasses of wine a night, instead of one? Or perhaps, every time you go out, you’re always the one being carried home?
Whatever has caused you to question your drinking, it’s important that you take some time to think about your alcohol consumption. Make no mistake, drinking high amounts of alcohol can lead to all sorts of health problems. So if you are drinking a little too much, it’s important that you deal with it as soon as possible.
To help you decide whether to cut down on what you are drinking and how to go about it, here are a few handy tips:
Look at how much alcohol you are drinking
Think back over the past couple of weeks and look at how much on average you are drinking. According to state guidelines, women should be drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. Of these, she shouldn’t be having any more than three units in a day.
To give you an idea of how much alcohol that is, a standard glass of wine is around two and a half units – most of your daily allowance. So if you are drinking more than one glass of wine a day or more than five glasses a week, you need to cut down.
Set yourself a goal for cutting down
Start off by setting yourself a goal for cutting down. This could be only having half a glass of wine a night, instead of a full glass. Or, it could be deciding only to drink on weekends. How you choose to cut down is up to you – just make sure to set yourself a goal that you can stick to.
If you drink in social situations, such as at after work drinks, it’s important to have a plan in place for this. If you are serious about cutting down on your drinking, you need to ensure that you don’t let your resolve slip when you are out and about.
Be positive
Don’t think of reducing your alcohol intake as something negative, be positive about it. Yes, you won’t be able to drink as many cocktails on a Friday night, but you’ll be healthier and happier. Plus, there are always mocktails – these are just as yummy as normal cocktails and won’t give you a sore head in the morning.
Get help
If you find stopping drinking difficult, this could indicate that you have an alcohol problem. Most of us think of alcoholics as people who drink all day every day, but that’s not always the case. An alcoholic is someone who is addicted to alcohol; it doesn’t matter when they drink. Whether that’s in the evening, on the weekend or during the day, if you feel that you ‘need’ a drink, you could have a problem with alcohol.
If you struggle to reduce your alcohol consumption, get some professional help. You may not think that expert help is necessary, but if you don’t get help kicking the problem, it will only get worse.
Get in touch with a local alcohol addiction facility, like Sanford House, and ask about the programs and support that they offer. All it might take to get past your problem is a couple of therapy sessions, or you may need more intensive treatment. When it comes to choosing a treatment option, opt for the program that’s best for you.
Be open with friends and family
Don’t try to hire the fact that you’re having some problems with alcohol and are trying to cut down. If you don’t tell people, they may offer you alcohol and make things worse. If, however, you are open with your friends and family, they will be able to help and support you.
Reducing your alcohol intake is never easy, whether you are addicted to drinking or not. However, by implementing the tips above, you can make the process of cutting down, a little easier for yourself.
Be the first to comment