For many of us, alcohol is a part and parcel of our lives, whether it be a glass of wine in front of the tele after work, or a few casual drinks with friends on a Friday night. But we also need to be careful around how much we are drinking.
Many of us see one turn into two, three and beyond and it’s what can often land us in alcohol rehab facilities, seeing our moderate drinking levels spiral into dependency. Which makes it always worthwhile asking the question: “why am I drinking in the first place?”
By understanding what is driving you to drink, you can start to identify whether your relationship is problematic, whether you can develop healthier coping mechanisms and how you can regain a sense of control.
But how can you do that exactly? Here are our top tips to help you get a grasp on why you might be drinking…
Keep a Drinking Diary
Actually, the easiest and most effective ways to uncover your patterns of drinking is by keeping a journal or a diary. This allows you to not only record how much you drink, but also when, where and how you were feeling, what the reason for drinking was.
From there you can start to identify patterns, understanding if you drink when you’re stressed, lonely, when you celebrate or even when you’re just a bit bored. Patterns will emerge and then you can start to address the reasons as to why you drink, rather than purely focusing on the booze itself.
Identify Emotional Triggers
Many of us do turn to drink as a way of coping. That could be with trauma, nerves, anxiety, stress or even sadness. In fact, being excited could see you turn to it too. Reflect on the emotions that make you drink and start to consider other, healthier strategies, for when those emotions arise.
Consider Social Influences
Alcohol often plays a central role in socialising, which can make it difficult to separate your own choices from group habits. Ask yourself: are you drinking because you genuinely want to, or because it feels expected?
Peer pressure is not always overt, sometimes it’s the subtle sense that “everyone else is doing it”. By becoming more aware of these influences, you can start to set boundaries and make conscious decisions, rather than simply going along with the crowd.
Reflect on Stress and Routine
For some, drinking becomes part of a daily routine, the “reward” at the end of a long day. While this habit may feel harmless at first, it can create a dependency where alcohol becomes the default way to unwind.
If drinking is your main method of relief, then this is a problematic relationship to have with alcohol. You want to look at how you can build alternative routines, which could be reading, meditating, exercising or many other things, which can provide a bit more balance and reduce the reliance on alcohol.
Explore Underlying Issues
Sometimes, what drives drinking goes deeper than everyday stress. Past trauma, unresolved grief, or ongoing mental health challenges can all contribute to alcohol use. If you suspect that your drinking is linked to deeper issues, seeking professional support can be invaluable.
Speaking with a counsellor or therapist can help you explore these underlying factors in a safe, constructive way and provide healthier tools for coping.
Be Honest with Yourself
Finally, be honest with yourself. This whole process should have honesty at the heart of it. It’s the only way you’ll get to grips with the reason you are drinking. Ask yourself reflective questions to understand the role alcohol has in your life, and think about how you feel when you’re not drinking.
Honestly will allow you to get a firm idea of your relationship with alcohol and regularly checking in with that will give you a clear idea of whether you do or don’t need help now, and further down the line.
