Most of us don’t really think of alcohol as a drug, but it is. And despite the fact that you may drink it to “feel good”, alcohol is actually classed as a depressant because of the effects it has on the body’s vital functions.
Drinking a little too much alcohol leads to minor depressant effects, such as lack of judgement or coordination. Severe depressant effects include numbness to pain, alcohol poisoning, vomiting, unconsciousness and even death.
The facts on drinking in Australia are somewhat terrifying. According to a number of studies on alcohol consumption in Australia over the past decade*:
- Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia
- It costs society more than $15 billion every year
- 1 in 10 workers say they have experienced the negative effects of a co-worker’s use of alcohol
- Alcohol-related diseases kill almost 6000 people in Australia every year
- 12 to 13 people a month die from alcohol related cancer, attributed to drinking at least some alcohol every day
- Young Australians drink less, however older Australians are really hitting the bottle hard
In a global drug survey, Australia ranked third (behind Mexico and Ireland) for respondents who said they wished they drank less.
When you want to drink less, it’s often because you are starting to feel the negative effects on your body, or you have had one too many bad experiences after drinking too much.
Many Australians reach for an alcoholic drink out of habit, or as a way to relax at the end of a long day – BUT if you answer “yes” to any of the following, alcohol may be becoming a problem for you:
- Do you feel as though your drinking is getting out of control?
- Are you drinking too much alcohol (more than the health guidelines)?
- Do you spend too much money on alcohol?
- Do you have to make excuses about your drinking?
- Are you violent when you drink?
- Do you believe you drink because of boredom or stress?
- Are you gaining weight from over-drinking?
- Is alcohol affecting your relationships/marriage?
- Do you have frequent mood swings – particularly when you cannot drink?
- Do you feel lost, like you don’t know yourself any more?
- Are you waking in the middle of the night due to alcohol affecting your sleep?
- Are you using alcohol to get to sleep?
- Do you often make plans to “quit drinking” on Monday, but it doesn’t work out?
- Is feeling hung-over spoiling your weekend, or that of your spouse, children and family members?
- Do you suffer alcohol-induced blackouts, or have trouble remembering the night before?
- Are you ashamed of your behaviour?
- Do you frequently offend people while you’re drunk?
- Does your spouse or children ask you to stop drinking?
- Are you worried about your long term health?
If you find yourself nodding while reading these questions, it’s probably a sign that you need to do something now.
Hypnotherapy for alcohol addiction can help you understand and deal with the reasons why you drink, as well as programming your subconscious to think differently about alcohol. I’ve worked with hundreds of clients over the years, and achieved a 95% success rate in just 3-4 sessions.
It’s time to make a decision.
Take that first step, and call me on 0433 786 174.
Blessings,
Rebecca
https://habtherapy.com.au/alcohol-kills-15-australians-day/
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/publishing.nsf/Content/alc-strategy/%24FILE/alcohol_strategy_back.pdf