There’s a lot to be said about waking up in the morning and not having a headache, and not regretting things we did the night before – it’s no wonder more and more of us are deciding to say no to alcohol!

Last year, our friends at the Bureau of Statistics revealed the around 25 per cent of us are drinking less than the year before. Many of us starting cutting back as part of FebFast, others during Dry July. If you’re heading into February with a resolve to cut out alcohol, here’s some insp – we’re cheering you on!

Calling a time out

Calling a time-out on alcohol can be difficult at first, but it’s worth sticking with.

The 2019 Annual Alcohol poll indicated that among us Aussies there is widespread confusion about the effects of alcohol. Our so-called ‘binge-drinking’ culture is still very much alive and kicking. The poll indicated 64 per cent of us who drink to get drunk do so at least twice a week!?? Our nation has a bit of a problem with alcohol.

Have you ever wondered why you pee more when drinking alcohol?

Alcohol is an actual bladder and bowel irritant, which leads you to produce more urine and can make you go to the toilet more often and in more of a hurry.

So, if you’re drinking to the point of blacking out you are more susceptible to losing bladder control and waking up saturated…. Unpleasant – yes! If you already have trouble with rushing to the toilet and also possibly leaking when you don’t want to then alcohol consumption can only make it worse.

Reminder: There are things you don’t have to put up with.  If you’re experiencing bladder leakage issues and need some help working out what’s going on check out our helpful tool here.

You can also take the plunge and make a call to the National Continence Helpline. Our supportive and experienced Nurse Continence Specialists know heaps about these concerns. They can give you advice and direct you onto further help near to where you live if you need it!

The link between drinking alcohol and violence or aggression is well known

Alcohol, like any drug effects our cognitive and physical function causing reduced self-control, limiting our ability to process incoming information as well as assess risks.

This can make us feel emotional labile or numb and impulsive.

This lack of control is then inevitable, and alcohol related harm can’t be avoided. This means different things for each of us. When the ultimate result hurts you or others you know and even don’t know, the consequences can be devastating and, even in this sense, life changing.

Other health issues

Excessive use of alcohol can make us susceptible to long term health risks such as heart disease, stroke and even cancer. Getting a fresh take on the fact that if you drink too much you just increase that risk of harm…… it’s good to take a moment here and understand that significance.

A bit dry?

We know that alcohol is an irritant to your bladder and bowel and pretty much has a diuretic effect on the bladder – meaning – you have substantial increase in urine flow and excessive loss of body fluids. So, what’s the after effect of drinking too much? You get dehydrated that’s what! Many of you would have already heard of being encouraged to drink water in between alcohol.  There is obvious merit in this plus with the added bonus of maybe helping deal with the dreaded hangover for the next day.

So, take that precious pearl from this one wise fact and even consider some healthy alternatives like Kombucha, Fresh juice or maybe even a Mocktail more generously, it’s ok! You’re doing yourself a massive favour and keeping your hydration game strong!

FebFast

FebFast is a great kick-starter for the year on some good healthy habits as well as a bit of significant goodwill to consider. Aside from clichés, it really is never too late to keep a check-in on curbing our alcohol intake. We say it’s still legit for any month of the year.

Channeling our radars into a ‘good’ cause to help us focus elsewhere and with purpose, even when things are still tough for many of us is always a ‘good’ call!

If you are struggling with things at the moment,  reach out to Beyond Blue or Lifeline who can support you right now.