How alcohol consumption effects your life

When I recently went out with some friends, I was surprised to discover that little did they know that alcohol is a depressant. Yes, sure when you are out with friends drinking, it's fun and it can feel like a bit of an escape from life. However, there is most certainly a dark side. Especially if you are consuming an excessive amount of alcohol into your 30s, 40s and 50s. This could mean drinking every day after work, binge drinking at weekends or even you have come to the point of going to the pub for a pint bang on 12pm. Drinking may have become a part of your life and you are beginning to realise that you have a negative relationship with alcohol.

A negative relationship with alcohol can effect your life in so many ways. Here are just a few:

1) You wake up feeling anxious that you have made a fool of yourself the night before. You don't fully remember everything you did. Perhaps you were being overly loud or gregarious. Perhaps you said or did things that were totally out of character. This worry can last for weeks or even months for some people. It may effect your ability to socialise or you may feel overcome with embarrassment that you decide to stop seeing your friends for a while in order to process your emotions. Alternatively, you may spend time worrying to your friends and seeking reassurance.

2) You feel heavy and irritable for the next few days and your work is certainly effected. Perhaps you forget things or you are just not on top form. Everything seems like a chore and you feel more sensitive.

3) Alcohol can change your personality and can have a really negative effect on your relationships. Perhaps you start to chronically complain to the point that no one really wants to listen or be involved in that much negativity. Perhaps you actually become physically, emotionally or verbally abusive to your children, partner or friends.

The fact is that you will never find happiness at the bottom of a beer glass.

A relevant quote would be:

'I've never seen anyone drink themselves smart, successful or happy. Most end up broke, bitter and alone'

This might seem a bit extreme but if you are experiencing issues with alcohol now and don't gain control of it, then this is the road you are choosing if it hasn't happened already. People say that for people to want to change they have to hit rock bottom. I would say that in some cases this is true. However, for many people the anxiety, the lack of confidence, self esteem or the impact alcohol has on their work and relationships is enough for them to want to do something about it now. It is certainly time to wake up.

Quite often, the reason why people drink to excess or begin to lose control is because they enjoy the feeling of escape. It's as if alcohol resolves all their problems even if only temporarily. But that is all it is. Temporary. The drowning out of sorrows, what seems like an easy fix. Many people who prefer to avoid their emotions or avoid facing up to their issues may turn to alcohol either consciously or subconsciously to deal with them. An alcohol problem is often disguised by socialising, parties, the allure of the bars, especially if you're doing this more frequently than you were before and it's interfering with your work or health.

Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique and Havening all work to deal effectively with past trauma which is often the contributing factor to alcoholism. The results of the therapy allows people to change their relationship with alcohol. It provides a choice for you to drink in moderation and enjoy it. For example with a meal or a brindisi. If you have suffered past trauma and it is manifesting itself in the amount of alcohol you drink, it often stems back as far as childhood. With Advanced Clinical Hypnosis, Emotional Freedom Technique and Havening, each therapy gets to the root cause of the issue to allow you to go through a healing process and take control of your life. When you gain insight, realisation and understanding of yourself, your life will change for the better. Your relationships will improve, you will become more successful at work and you will find other, more positive ways to feel happy in your life.

It can be difficult to believe that alcohol has such a profound effect on relationships. Especially if you are unaware of your own behaviour. Not only does alcohol effect the person drinking, but also the people around them. For example, children and partners. You may not be fully aware of how alcohol changes your behaviour and the result this has on your relationships. Many of my clients who have suffered the abuse of alcoholic parents often don't realise that this abuse is the cause of their issues now. It is a vicious circle.

Life can seem so boring when you rely on something like alcohol to have a good time. Alcohol is the path to an empty life with no depth or meaning.

Here are some other quotes that might help you to rethink how alcohol is effecting your life:

Alcohol is a perfect solvent: it dissolves marriages, families and careers'

'It is sad that people need alcohol to make them happy'

'Alcoholism: the disease that makes you too selfish to see the havoc you created and care about the people you shattered'

'Alcoholism is a well documented pathological reaction to unresolved grief'

Change is possible and it is exciting what you can start creating in your life once to take control. If you are interested in how hypnotherapy can help you, Diamond Hypnotherapy is based in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Stephanie would love to work with you and help you to live the life that you want!