Many of us think of alcohol as a normal part of socializing and don’t consider the downsides of consuming it. However, a recent trend to go “dry” for a month or more has been challenging that idea. Millions have been helped by mending their relationship with alcohol while discovering the drawbacks of consuming it regularly.
Unfortunately, our society pushes the idea that drinking alcohol regularly, and sometimes excessively, is a normal thing to do. In reality, alcohol is a depressant that makes harms our bodies and our minds.
Assess Your Relationship With Alcohol
What situations make you reach for a drink? Are you more of a social drinker? Do you have a ritual of pouring a glass of wine or popping open a beer after work?
Considering a break with alcohol will get you thinking about your relationship with alcohol.
Why and when you turn to alcohol are questions only you can answer.
For many people, drinking alcohol is a way to self-medicate from anxiety, stress, inability to sleep, or a number of other factors. Society emphasizes that it’s okay to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. However, if it becomes a tool for concealing emotions, that’s something that you’ll want to examine during this detox period.
Alcohol and Your Body
Alcoholic drinks contain fat, sugar, and calories that we definitely don’t need in our bodies. There are ZERO health benefits from drinking, and any supposed benefit (like antioxidants) is likely offset by the inflammatory nature of the alcohol mixed in with it.
Curious how many calories you’ve been sipping? Take a look:
Beer (12 oz) = 153 cal
Light Beer (12 oz) = 103 cal
Red wine (5 oz) = 125 cal
White wine (5 oz) = 121 cal
Champagne (4 oz) = 84 cal
The average frozen margarita averages at around 400 calories, with 59 grams of carbohydrates, and a whopping 52 grams of sugar!
Alcohol and Your Mind
Drinking makes us feel bad.
As a substance, alcohol is a depressant, and will, therefore, make us feel depressed.
Alcohol can contribute to increased anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and other forms of illness.
Moreover, binge drinking can lead to antisocial behavior, abuse, violence, crime, blackouts, falling into dangerous situations, and increasing the risk of self-harm and even suicide.
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