Did you know that one of the top reasons people turn to alcohol is because it makes them feel good? It’s common for people to fall into alcoholism because the alcohol masks what they’re going through. Sometimes a person’s desperate circumstances cause them to resort to desperate measures to find relief, and alcohol is one of the most popular go to substances when stress ramps up. How can you combat it?
Is Drinking to Relieve Stress Bad?
It’s not uncommon to reach for a bottle of alcohol after a stressful day. In fact, it’s an action ingrained in us from a young age. The average American grows up around adults who drink after a hard day. We’re surrounded by entertainment and marketing that encourages the act of drinking to relieve stress and promote relaxation. So is drinking to relieve stress a bad thing, or is it safe? The answer lies in how you drink.
Alcohol is a depressant, which means is slows down or depresses the body’s central nervous system and cognitive functions. While it can provide the temporary illusion of stress relief, drinking to discharge stress can backfire. In fact, alcohol can aggravate anxiety and, in some cases, become the catalyst that leads to mental health issues. The problem with turning to alcohol for stress management lies in its adverse effects. While moderate drinking to dismiss stress isn’t necessarily a bad move, it isn’t always good either.
According to Professor Cary Cooper, a specialist in organizational psychology and health at the University of Lancaster, getting drunk isn’t the answer to stress. Cooper says it’s “not properly confronting the issue that [made] you feel stressed in the first place.” It’s avoidance, and it doesn’t offer the opportunity to come up with solutions to the problem. The better way to deal with stress is to talk to someone about the cause behind it.
Long-term use of alcohol to relieve stress is dangerous. When alcohol enters the blood stream, it plays with brain chemistry. One of the major changes it causes is hormonal. The sensation of relaxation and euphoria that results is temporary and addictive. Excessive and sometimes moderate long-term drinking leads to addiction, life and relationship problems, and severe damage to body organs that’s permanent. There are better, safer ways to relieve stress during extreme circumstances.
Why Desperate Times Don’t Call for Alcohol
According to Live Science, stress actually changes how alcohol affects the drinker. In a study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, researchers found that when people in the lab were given alcohol, they had one of two reactions:
- Participants who commonly felt a pleasant and stimulating buzz from drinking reported feeling sedated when put into a stressful situation prior to drinking.
- Participants who usually felt sedated from drinking became less drowsy and experienced increased cravings for alcohol when stressed before drinking.
The study presents an interesting link between stress, alcohol, and why the two commonly accompany each other. Says Emma Childs, co-author of the study, “[people] may actually drink more to feel [the] effect” they normally associate with alcohol. Bottom line, drinking one’s way through highly stressful times isn’t the answer. It can predicate a substance abuse and addiction problem.
10 Tips for Relieving Stress
So what can you do when falling on hard times? How can you relieve stress without risking alcoholism? Here are ten tips to get you on the right track to beneficial stress relief:
- Meditate: Taking just ten to fifteen minutes per day to practice meditation is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. If meditation techniques aren’t your thing, consider taking five minutes to practice deep breathing.
- Exercise: Physical activity is one of the best ways to relieve stress. A short walk is a great way to clear and focus the mind, and it’s never a bad idea to get moving. For a more rigorous solution, consider jogging, biking, or hitting the gym. Hiking is also a good way to relieve stress.
- Listen to Music: Listening to music is a great way to relax or promote a certain mood. It’s a proven solution to stress because it’s a simple, on the go answer. Researchers have found that calming music promotes positive effects on the body and brain including lowering blood pressure and reducing cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.
- Drink Tea: The British are known for their affair with teas, and they just might be on to something! One study determined that black teas can assist with lowering cortisol levels, thus promoting feelings of relaxation. Black and green teas are also useful for treating some forms of chronic anxiety.
- Talk: Counseling has long been a treatment for stress and anxiety, but you don’t necessarily need to see a professional counselor to relieve stress. When those uptight and uncomfortable feelings creep up, take a moment to talk to a good friend. A phone call or text message conversation can help you gain reassurance and a new perspective.
- Get a Hug: You’ve probably seen that meme floating around Facebook about physical contact reducing stress. It’s accurate. Hugging can reduce stress and anxiety as well as blood pressure. So the next time you’re feeling upset, seek out a big warm hug.
- Laugh: It’s often the last thing you want to do when coping with stress, but finding a reason to laugh can reduce tension. Specifically, it can reduce fatigue.
- Pep Talk: When you’re feeling isolated and overwhelmed, talk to yourself. It doesn’t make you crazy; it makes you smart. Taking a moment to talk calmly and remind yourself that you will be okay is a grounding move. It helps you refocus, regain traction, and move forward.
- Eat: Don’t eat your feelings, eat right! A properly balanced diet can go a long ways to relieving stress levels. That means alcohol and caffeine are out and high protein, fiber, and clean eating is in!
- Sleep: Go to bed early and catch up on some sleep. It sounds stupid simple, but a good night of sleep followed by more nights of regular, restful sleep can go miles toward relieving stress and anxiety. If you’re having a hard time getting comfortable to fall asleep perhaps you need a new mattress. Before purchasing a new mattress, checkout this mattress size chart to see what size would be best for your height.