Not sure which thread to put this in but anyway, most things seem interwoven ultimately affecting mental health so will try here, but wanted to mainly focus on booze and give a shout out to the Drinkaware App.
Never really been concerned about the amount, just the frequency. Very typical of the ‘shared bottle of wine’ with dinner every night dynamic, (because, you know, it compliments the food (and you deserve it after a hard day)), then there’s a night out midweek with ‘the boys’, and a night out for beers and wine and something to eat with the good lady at the weekend. But, it’s ok because you never open a 2nd bottle, you never touch spirits, you very rarely have more than 3 pints and you do have the odd night off now and again so that’s all right then.
Never been a great sleeper and as you get older you’re always up in the night for a pee and it’s increasingly difficult to get back off. Not exactly helpful sticking a load of booze in your bladder before you go to bed of course. That said have been struggling with some very difficult ongoing family trauma for over a year and the sleeping situation is really out of hand. Once you’re up for a pee, your mind starts churning events over and it’s impossible to go back off and often only sleep from around 11.00pm til about 2.30am. It’s pretty depressing staring at a dark ceiling willing yourself to go back to sleep.
The actual amount of alcohol hasn’t really changed and it’s obvious the sleep is considerably affected by the other factors too, but someone recommended the Drinkaware App because you can monitor the drink, and your sleeping patterns there too, with a visual aid as to how one affects the other, and an awareness to the aforementioned interwoven impacts on all things like mental health too.
Anyway, downloaded the App and started tracking (without any goals, just tracking to monitor what was happening at first) about 7 weeks ago. September was the first complete month and seeing the stats in black and white is an eye opener - 143.1 units. That’s 64 drinks, with 8 drink free days. Way over recommended limits but no doubt way under what a lot of other people are drinking too.
Don’t want to stop altogether as I honestly really do love and appreciate real ale, and do enjoy red wine too. The social aspect is fantastic and it’s no wonder so many of us get sucked in and it’s a hard habit to break. But the sleep has to be addressed and so since the start of October the first goals are no drinking at home at all midweek. That still leaves a pub night Wednesday and keeps the weekends ring fenced as a time to relax and enjoy. That’s what, 3 nights off, 4 if Sunday is included, which becomes more nights off than on and seems a reasonable target.
Have to say 2 weeks into October so far and it’s working very well. Sleep is much, much improved (helped by the fundamental not getting up so much and opening the opportunity for the mind to start churning for a start) and the alertness and clarity of mind benefits during the day are noticeable too. It is still tempting to ‘just have a glass’ with dinner, but that passes soon enough. I mean I know it’s all a complex subject and we’re all wrestling with different challenges and alcohol might not even play a part in whatever they may be, but actually recording something you are doing or have concerns about, and having the data presented to you in a clear and concise manner is just so helpful.
No doubt other great apps out there to assist with other specific issues but the technology is out there guys so use it, but just wanted to give a shout out to the entirely free Drinkaware App as it’s a real health-check awakener.
