Your weekly drinking results
You're reducing your risk of long-term health problems
You drink MORE than 0% of women your age
Drinking less gives you more energy.
Drinking too much can make you feel tired, sluggish and generally a bit under the weather. Drink less and it shouldn't take too long before you notice that you have more energy.
Drinking less can help you sleep.
Regular drinking can affect the quality of your sleep, making you feel tired and sluggish. When you drink alcohol before bed you may fall into a deep sleep quicker, but as the night goes on you spend more time in the less restful Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep. This can leave you feeling tired the next day, not matter how long you stay in bed. To help you sleep better, stop drinking earlier before bedtime. This will give your body time to process the alcohol you've drunk. On average it takes two hours to process a glass of wine or pint of beer. For more advice to help you sleep visit www.nhs.uk/livewell/sleep/pages/sleep-home.aspx
Drinking less can lift your mood.
Some people drink when they're feeling down, but this usually only makes them feel worse. Initially alcohol may make you feel more energetic or cheerful, but then - because alcohol is a depressant - you could end up feeling worse. For other ways to lift your mood visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/
Now we know more about how you drink, we'd like to suggest some simple tips that you could try using to drink less. You don't need to do them all. Pick what works best for you and your life.
Cutting down alcohol may help lift your mood.
There's a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, and hangovers often make you feel anxious and low. If you already feel anxious or sad, drinking can make this worse, so cutting down may put you in a better mood generally. Making changes in your life, such as resolving a difficult situation, talking about your problems or getting more sleep, can usually improve your mood. Check out the following useful link for tips about how to be happier, more in control, and able to cope better with life's ups and downs https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/feel-better-and-happy.aspx
If negative feelings don't go away, are too much for you to cope with, or are stopping you from carrying on with your normal life, you may need to make some changes and get some extra support. Talk to your GP or call NHS 111. There is more information about help for low mood at https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/low-mood-and-depression.aspx
Give yourself an excuse to drink less.
Special occasions like birthdays, weddings and christenings are happy times when it's easy to get carried away, but giving yourself an excuse to drink less or leave early can help. Some good ways to do this include offering to be the designated driver or arranging something important for the following morning.
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