Central Phoenix Obstetrics & Gynecology

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

With social distancing recreational activities have moved to private spaces. At the same time, family, work, financial stress is at an all time high. This can be a recipe for problems with alcohol to arise or get worse.

Ten Tips to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Reassess current drinking habits—a good idea at any time but especially now with the rise of virtual happy hours
Maintain usual drinking habits—be mindful of a gradual increase in drinking with virtual hanging out
Evaluate your social media exposure to alcohol related content– can be challenging if you’re trying to curb or be mindful of your consumption.
Technology can be your friend– online 12-step meetings and support groups or digital communities that share your values.
Stay mentally and physically fit
Create rituals that make you feel good–making creative non alcoholic drinks or nutritious new recipes, journaling, listening to music
Make sure you are connecting with others daily, even if that is remotely–chatting with a supportive friend on the phone or virtually lowers stress hormones.
Exercise—even just a daily walk in an uncrowded area—can help to “to regulate your autonomic nervous system, which will reduce anxiety.
If you’re not comfortable going outside, online exercises courses or apps and virtual live classes are great alternatives to get moving.
Recognize when your anxiety may be getting too difficult to handle. It can be treated and managed so go get help.

Alcoholic beverage sales in the US rose by 55% in late March

On-demand alcohol delivery app Drizly saw a 300% spike in sales in March and the average online alcohol and spirits order is also up by 20%.

There has been a 296% increase in group meetings booked specifically for virtual happy hours and drinking events via one online scheduling app.

Identify Problem Drinking

In this new normal it can be hard to spot problem drinking since to becoming dependent on alcohol isn’t always a dramatic turn from a cocktail or two a day to frequent binge drinking. In the loose, undefined nature of days right now problematic habits can evolve gradually and be hard to decipher.

Signs to look out for:

You feel that you are being controlled in any way by the alcohol use—thoughts like “I have to have a drink to deal with…”

the emotions and associations you have surrounding alcohol. “If you feel anxiety and Do you automatically reach for a drink when you feel anzious or angry or sad?

you feel that you can’t relax unless you have a drink.

changes in your mood and behavior when you’re not drinking — nervousness, headaches, muscle aches, increased stress, and irritability

your relationship to alcohol has become cyclical—anxiety, drink, relax, return of anxiety, drink, relax…