Irish adults binge drink more than their counterparts in any other European country.
When we consider the negative effects of this alarming pattern, we immediately picture overcrowded A&E rooms at weekends, think of the long-term impact on the liver and heart, the short-term dangers due to impaired judgement, and the damage to social and familial relationships. The devastating effect it has on our mental health, however, is rarely taken into account.
On Friday evenings the streets of Ireland are full of revellers looking to blow off steam after a hard week at work or study, and for many alcohol is the way to do this. While alcohol can have a very temporary positive impact on our mood, in the long-term it can cause big problems for mental wellbeing.
Did you know alcohol alters your brain chemistry? It is a depressant which disrupts the delicate balance of chemicals and processes necessary for healthy brain function, with regular heavy drinking interfering with neurotransmitters in our brains. This contributes to depression and anxiety, lowering levels of the serotonin which helps to regulate your mood.
As someone who was a regular binge drinker until 18 months ago, I cannot overstate how much giving up alcohol has helped. I would go out a few times a week, drinking intending to moderate but inevitably binge, and rarely remember getting home. The following day would be a black haze of illness, self-hatred and crushing anxiety. Yet I was caught in a cycle of chasing the release that the first few hours of drinking provides and had fooled myself into believing I was having a great time. Alcohol is a powerful drug and is very deceptive. It is easy to look back on a night out and remember the first two to three hours of fun but conveniently forget the black outs, embarrassing behaviour and darkness of the hangover.
The first year of not drinking was very hard. At 5.30 on a Friday, I was like one of Pavlov’s dogs, salivating at the thought of a blow out with friends as my computer screen clock confirmed the end of the working week. For most of my first year not drinking I went home on a Friday or visited friends. I just was not able to go out after work, so imbedded was my old pattern in my psyche. I had to get out of the way of temptation, pronto!
Instead I went out on a Saturday but rarely would a bar be the focal point of the evening. I would meet people for dinner, the cinema or a gig and if we went to a bar after I would just have a couple of minerals or non-alcoholic beers and then go home.
Also, it is important to be self-aware. On some nights I knew I could not go out because I could feel the demon drink nipping at my heels and knew I was vulnerable. For the first while I made sure I surrounded myself with people who were supportive. You will be surprised by the amount of people that will take offence and be openly hostile about your decision. Such is the relationship with alcohol in this country!
I found planning to be very important. If you do not want to miss out on a social evening when people are meeting in a bar, have a firm plan in place. Say to yourself: “I will go from 8 until 10, mingle and then get the bus home and treat myself to a favourite DVD and ‘insert name of favourite chocolate bar here’!” Reward yourself for good behaviour!
Cutting alcohol out may not be necessary for everyone. Moderation might be the right path for you. If you choose to take that course, try alternating between alcoholic and soft drinks. Bring the car sometimes when you go out. Have a meal before you start drinking so you don’t get inebriated too quickly.
Whether cutting down or cutting it out, best of luck – it’s not called ‘the demon drink’ for nothing!
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