Warnings over alcohol intake during period of self-isolation
DRINKAWARE.IE is advising people working from home, self-isolating and social distancing due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic to not turn to drink to pass the time as it may lead to a long term addiction.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: ‘We are changing the way we live our lives from day to day. As a nation, we are adapting well but now more than ever, we must look after our mental health and wellbeing and be especially mindful of how much alcohol we are drinking. It’s perfectly normal to feel stress or anxiety about our ongoing public health emergency. This can have an impact on how we are feeling, thinking and behaving.’
Half of Irish adults report drinking alcohol as a way to cope with problems, stress, and anxiety and younger adults are even more likely to use alcohol in this way. ‘ Alcohol will not help to make you feel better and can have the opposite effect. We are encouraging people to try some of our tips for healthier ways to manage stress or anxiety and further reduce alcohol-related harm. Taking these positive steps together, we can get through this unprecedented time stronger and more connected than before.
‘Social distancing is an essential public health measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Don’t host a party in your home and don’t attend a social gathering in someone else’s. Please consider the health of your friends, family and community. The advice is if you catch yourself reaching for a glass of wine of bottle of beer to reduce stress or fill free time at home, stop and make a change. You can do this by having plenty of non-alcoholic alternatives in the house, and put them within easy reach. Store alcohol out of sight, or remove it from your shopping list for now. Create a list of activities to do instead: listen to a podcast, read a book or start a DIY project you’ve been putting off. Talk and text regularly. Check in with friends and family as much as you can by phone, video, text and social media.
‘Self-isolation can be a boring or frustrating experience, which can increase feelings of stress or anxiety. Keeping in touch can have a positive impact on your mood and ability to deal with problems.’
TIPS
Get out for a walk in your local area every day. Sleep and rest well. Alcohol, even just a few drinks, can affect how well you sleep which can lead to a bad night’s rest. Cook a healthy meal. Take the extra time you have at home to try out a new recipe. A balanced nutritious diet is just as important for mental health as it is for physical health. Remember you’re not alone. ‘What we are facing right now is not about any of us alone, it’s about all of us. And each of us must do what we can to protect and support our communities and country.’
The impact of alcohol on your mental health is more significant than you might think. Alcohol can contribute to the development of mental health problems including depression and anxiety, as well as making existing problems worse. In fact, drinking when you’re anxious or stressed to improve your mood can have the opposite effect.
Alcohol is a depressant, which disrupts how the brain functions and affect our thoughts, feelings and actions. Alcohol affects the levels chemicals or neurotransmitters in our brain, for example, serotonin, which regulates happiness. This change to the brain processes causes the relaxed feeling you may get after your first drink but this change is also responsible for feelings of anxiety or depression you may experience the next day. Regular, heavy drinking interferes with these chemicals in our brains that are needed for strong, balanced mental health.