Tag Archives: alcohol

8 Ways We Self-Medicate Anxiety

Everyone knows what it’s like to have anxious moments. In fact, our body’s natural stress response is an invaluable tool we need to respond appropriately in times of crisis or danger. But when it is a near-constant companion – fueled by everyday thoughts or situations that do not warrant a heightened stress response – anxiety can be harmful. In fact, it can hurt so much our minds and bodies become desperate for relief, any relief, as fleeting as it may be. Though there are healthy means of relieving anxiety, such as exercise, meditation and prayer, all too often we choose … Continue reading →

Alhohol Abuse in Single-Parent Teens

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Studies have shown that children who are raised in single parent households are at a higher risk of developing alcohol-related problems. This could possibly be due to low supervision, inconsistent discipline, poor communication, or conflicts within the family. Teens with the highest risk of developing alcoholism are girls, those who begin drinking prior to age 14, and those with a parent who suffers from alcohol-related problems. Alcohol contributes to a number of problems, including an inability to pay attention, the risk for developing alcoholism, car-related deaths, higher risk for suicide, greater possibility of engaging in unprotected sex or sex with … Continue reading →

Look At the Family

Years ago I remember someone saying if a guy is considering marriage he needs to look at the girl’s Mom, because that’s what he could be looking at years down the track. Now the problem with that is that it is very stereotypical and as Angela pointed out in a comment on another blog, people don’t always follow the stereotypes. The key here is always because often they do. So it’s worth while taking a good long look at the family your intended comes from. It might alert you to problems. For example, years ago I knew a guy whose … Continue reading →

Dangers in the Party Scene

The Christmas party scene can be fraught with dangers if we are not careful. Yesterday I looked at, among other things, how alcohol loosen inhibitions and causes people to do things they might not normally It also presents the problem of who’s going to drive home afterwards. That can often be the cause of an argument. I’ve seen it happen. Either that or someone drives who is unfit to drive because their judgment is impaired by alcohol. As a young married woman said recently ‘I can understand why they warn people not to drink and drive. When I have a … Continue reading →

Christmas Parties and Marriage

It’s that time of year. Christmas parties are in full swing. We’ve been to two in the last two nights. Other people I know are faced with the dilemma of two parties on the same night and having to make a choice. Now I love to have a good time, whether it’s at a party or anywhere else, but in the festive season we need to be a little more careful – careful when it comes to our marriages. Some people come over all kissy kissy at Christmas parties, especially when they have a little bit of alcohol on board. … Continue reading →

Talking to Your Kids about Alcohol Abuse

When I was getting ready to go away to college, my parents sat me down and said something to the effect of “you’re probably going to drink when you’re at college, just do it responsibly.” They didn’t know that I’d already been faced with offers of alcohol and turned them down without hesitation. But then, I wouldn’t consider myself a typical teen with a typical curiosity about drinking. I had already seen up close what serious drinking could do to a person, and was not at all interested in alcohol. I never had more than a sip to taste until … Continue reading →

What Are You Modeling?

This morning I heard an interview on the car radio about modeling. Not the catwalk, skinny almost to the point of anorexia, type modeling but the model parents set for children. The subject under discussion was the use or misuse of alcohol and how children pick up on what they see modeled in the home. At the moment the Australian government is running a series of ads about the effects on children of what they see modeled in the home. If Dad or Mom have always got a beer in their hands, the children tend to follow suit. In Australia … Continue reading →

Treating Alcoholism

Let me say this up front: success in treating alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence is strongly linked to admitting that there is a problem and wanting to stop drinking. If you don’t want to stop drinking, all the treatments in the world aren’t going to do much good. Most alcoholics need to stop drinking completely. Initially, treatment will focus on stopping drinking and relieving symptoms of withdrawal. Some people can stop drinking on their own. Some can’t. Talk to your doctor — you may need anti-anxiety and/or anti-seizure medications to help you get through the withdrawal. Severe withdrawal symptoms like … Continue reading →

Has Your Ten Year Old Tasted Alcohol?

A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that two out of five American children between the ages of eight and ten — that’s forty percent — have tasted alcohol. That means just a few sips… nothing dangerous, right? What might be more worrisome is that of the children who had tasted alcohol, one third of parents had no idea that it had happened. Before the University of Pittsburgh study, research on alcohol use in children focused on older children and larger quantities of alcohol. Most of the prior research only asked about a child taking “more than a few … Continue reading →

Having Trouble Sleeping? (4)

In this the concluding article in the present series on getting a better night’s sleep, we look at the issues of using alcohol as a sleep inducer and the importance of daily exercise in getting a good night’s sleep. But you can’t just exercise at any time, so read on! 6. Give the nightcap a miss Although alcohol is a well known muscle relaxant and it does make you more relaxed, it sounds like an excellent sleeping aid, right? Wrong! Alcohol is often used to unwind at the end of a long and stressful day but unfortunately taking alcohol before … Continue reading →