What Impact Does a Lack of Sleep Have?
Watch the video to explore the impacts that a lack of sleep can have on your physical and mental wellbeing.
Watch this video to discover some common signs that you are drinking alcohol, as an unhealthy coping strategy . . .
A coping strategy is a technique or behaviour that you consciously or subconsciously use to alleviate difficult emotions and situations. Lots of coping strategies are healthy, such as going for a walk, but others can be harmful. Sometimes, a coping strategy, such as drinking alcohol, may begin as harmless but can soon become problematic.
Research confirms that alcohol is widely used as a coping strategy in the UK, including by professionals in order to cope with occupational distress. While reaching for a glass of wine each evening provides temporary relief from the day's stress, it also carries a high risk of addiction, with an estimated 10.4 million adults drinking at harmful levels in the UK.
But how do you know if Alcohol has become an unhealthy coping strategy?
If you find yourself constantly counting down the hours until you can have a drink, your relationship with alcohol may have become unhealthy.
Regularly drinking more than you planned can be an indication that you struggle to control your alcohol use.
While drinking to relax isn't always a sign of dependency, being unable to relax without alcohol indicates an unhealthy reliance.
4. You drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis
The NHS advises against regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week to reduce the risk of developing alcohol-related health problems. This is the equivalent of around 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.
Hiding your drinking habits from family and friends is usually a clear sign that what you are doing is not healthy.
Experiencing physical or psychological symptoms when you stop drinking is a definite sign that your body has become dependent on alcohol. Common withdrawal symptoms include severe headaches, nausea, trembling, and sweating. If you experience any of these when you don't drink, it is important to seek help as soon as possible.
If you notice any of these signs, it's important you reach out for support, including from your G P. You can also search 'Where to get help with your wellbeing' in your wellbeing toolkit to find some suggestions of other places to reach out for support.
Plus, you find our videos and guides on creating healthy coping strategies useful.
Watch the video to explore the impacts that a lack of sleep can have on your physical and mental wellbeing.
