According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2019, approximately 70 percent of adults drink alcohol despite the associated health risks. While some people undoubtedly enjoy alcoholic beverages for their taste, many rather prefer their sedating, relaxing qualities that help with social anxiety. Unfortunately, the link between alcohol and stress can be less clear than many imagine. Here’s how to cope without alcohol.
Remove Alcohol and Other Crutches
As any doctor can tell you, the human body is always seeking homeostasis. This means that any time a drug becomes a regular part of your life, your body attempts to return to its baseline state. When the effects of the drug are removed, your body undergoes an adjustment period that is often characterized by withdrawal symptoms. This is why you have a hangover after a night of heavy drinking.
When you drink alcohol to calm yourself during a stressful time or anxiety-inducing social event, you are telling yourself that you can’t handle stress without drinking. Over time, your body can learn to increase your anxiety whenever you are at a party or work event so it can restore your ability to engage your fight or flight response if necessary.
It isn’t hard to see how alcohol coping can quickly become a vicious cycle when alcohol is necessary even to lower your stress to normal levels. Fortunately, removing alcohol and other drugs from your routine can give your body a chance to return itself to normal. Not all crutches are drugs, however. Avoiding social encounters, tick behaviors, and avoiding stress can all result in increased overall anxiety.
Eat Right, Sleep Right, Supplement, and Exercise
There is no magical formula that can change you from an anxious and avoidant person to a calm and confident one. The key is understanding the importance of self care in everyday life. Because nutrition, sleep, and exercise are internal, they can’t be considered crutches. Rather, they can help you to achieve long-term health and emotional stability.
While it can initially be very difficult to wean yourself off habits that you have spent years building, doing so can be much easier when you add healthy behaviors in the place of unhealthy ones. Regular cardiovascular exercise and sufficient sleep are often enough to compensate entirely for coping behaviors. Where they aren’t, certain medications can help.
Brillia is a homeopathic, over-the-counter medication that doesn’t cause physical or psychological dependence. Essentially, it acts as a supplement that binds to the body’s S-100B protein, resulting in reduced anxiety and hyperactivity. Because Brillia only functions on this single protein, it has no side effects or negative impacts. For more on Brillia, see Brillia medication reviews.
Removing alcohol and replacing it with healthier substances and behaviors can take a little time, so try to be patient. Of course, everyone has a different relationship with alcohol, and you should seek professional advice if you think you have a drinking problem. Remember, with proper self care and supplementation, changing your habits can be far simpler.
