Alcohol Free Holidays – TherapyTribe
Find out how to have an alcohol-free festive season
For many people, alcohol is a vital a part of the festive season. Sharing a drink with coworkers, pals, or household is custom – after which in fact, if a few of these folks get to you, you would possibly really feel you actually want to drink to outlive a celebration or dinner with them.
However as you’d in all probability additionally agree, alcohol has its darkish aspect.
It’s simple to dismiss this when you don’t have what simply identifies as a consuming drawback. However binge consuming, drink driving, altercations, assault, blacking out, and impaired judgment can have critical – even deadly – penalties, irrespective of how not often you would possibly expertise them.
In response to a latest survey (whose outcomes are shared on this attention-grabbing take on alcohol in Oz), 78% of Australians assume our nation has an issue with alcohol. Tremendous, that’s simply an opinion. A extra sobering statistic: 29% of Australians have been affected by violence as a result of alcohol consumption.
All of the extra cause to keep away from mixing alcohol and the vacations.
After all, there are different causes to not drink, together with being pregnant, medical situations, private or non secular beliefs, weight reduction targets, and habit restoration. However no matter your motivation, it might be arduous to even think about getting by the festive season with out a drink in your hand.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of recommendation on the market on avoiding temptation, and far of it comes from recovering addicts or different individuals who can’t or select to not drink. Listed here are a few of their methods:
– Have some excuses prepared. You might be snug with not consuming, however nonetheless really feel awkward when turning down a drink. Or a number or good friend might insist, no matter what you say. So have a number of excuses prepared. A number of the hottest embrace saying you may’t drink since you’re taking antibiotics or are allergic to alcohol. If these don’t be just right for you, no worries – you could find loads extra by doing a web-based search.
– Have a drink. I don’t imply an alcoholic drink, in fact, however maintaining a glass of another form of beverage in hand makes it much less doubtless that individuals are going to push you to take an alcoholic one.
– Keep away from features that revolve round drink. Some gatherings is perhaps unavoidable, however others – like, say, that good friend’s sure-to-be-wild occasion – are price erasing out of your schedule.
– Get some hypnosis. Clearing the pressures that create the will to drink might be one of the best ways to resolve reliance on alcohol, and hypnotherapy is a really efficient approach to do that. The truth is, when you genuinely need to cease consuming alcohol altogether, throughout hypnosis, your hypnotherapist can present options to your unconscious thoughts that may depart you with no want for a drink in any respect.
– Deliver a good friend. If it’s a must to attend a vacation occasion or perform the place there can be alcohol, invite a good friend alongside who’s keen to help you and assist you maintain from consuming. In case your good friend can’t bodily come, ask when you can join with them through your cell, when you really feel the temptation to drink is getting too sturdy. In the event you don’t have a good friend you may depend on for this, contemplate becoming a member of your native department of Alcoholics Nameless (AA). They’ll join you with a sponsor, somebody who can present simply this sort of help.
– Use your native AA or different organisation’s sources. Many AA branches and different organisations maintain occasions focussed on the problem of not consuming throughout the holidays. These embrace events of their very own and particular, party-oriented help teams.
One other essential technique – possibly a very powerful – is to keep in mind that there are many enjoyable, rewarding issues to try this don’t contain alcohol. Listed here are just some concepts:
– Drink one thing delectable. Going alcohol-free might be an effective way to find new issues, from a stylish virgin cocktail or tea infusion, to revisiting vacation classics like sizzling cocoa.
– Play video games. That is an alcohol-free technique you’ll see on a whole lot of lists – for good cause. If you wish to beat your mates at Monopoly or Playing cards Towards Humanity, you’re not prone to measure up in case your mind is fuzzy.
– Volunteer. Giving again throughout the vacation season can offer you a way of goal and connection. It’s going to additionally maintain you in an alcohol-free setting the place you’re too focussed on different issues to crave a drink.
– Plan alcohol-free occasions. As an alternative of clubbing or bar-hopping, get a gaggle of pals collectively for a spa day, ceramics portray, a visit to a museum, or splash out collectively on some purchasing. In the event you’re extra into home-bound actions, you and your friends can tackle a brand new passion that requires focus, like knitting, whittling, or scrapbooking. Or simply make some popcorn, flop down on the couch and marathon films collectively.
– Self-care. If alcohol is your ‘reward’ for coping with stress or household strife, take a unique strategy. Take time (even when it’s a must to wait until the remainder of your loved ones is in mattress) for a protracted bathtub, curling up with a e-book you’ve been desirous to learn– something that makes you are feeling good and is a bit particular.
An alcohol-free festive season is feasible and it may be a solution to reconnect with family and friends, uncover new hobbies, and take higher care of your self. If it nonetheless appears daunting, take a look at native and on-line organisations and help teams. Therapeutic change-work can be a great way to get began making a constructive change for a more healthy, happier new yr so contact me when you really feel its time to get some extra helps.
Benefit from the season!
Warmest,
Karen Seinor
Soulful & Wild
Albury NSW Australia
