A BIG challenge facing a lot of people at Christmas is the abundance of food and alcohol everywhere!
We love to party and Christmas is a great time to do it! Drinks and nights out with friends, work mates, family! We look forward to eating and drinking more – this time of the year it’s nearly expected. It is OK! It is allowed!
But if you are struggling with alcohol dependency or an eating disorder it can be extremely difficult.
You may be wondering if you are becoming dependent on alcohol, or you may know that you are. When you are drinking might be the only time when you feel OK – more confident and able to cope; or just not as low! In Irish society the pressure to drink can feel overwhelming “Go on – have one – or – just one more”! “Don’t be a bore”! The possibility that it may just get right out of control this Christmas can be very scary. That you may let your family and loved ones down just one time two many is a sobering thought.
You may be battling anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. How will you get through Christmas hiding the fact that you are struggling to swallow a few bites or that you have to get to the toilet to vomit? The popular belief is that it is young girls who are mainly affected, but men are too. You may feel that controlling the amount of food you eat is the only area in your life that you can control and so Christmas can feel very stressful.
Try to keep things in perspective. Eating is not the only activity available – what about conversation with family and friends, walking outdoors, coming home to a warm welcoming house, scented candles, meditation, reading.
Having someone to talk to, who understands and accepts you as you are can be a help – maybe a family member who will help you work out strategies for dealing with the day.
How can you help yourself control or manage your drinking?
Ask yourself what is important to you and what it is you want! To have a good time? Enjoy the party? Meet a new girlfriend or boyfriend?
Hold on to your relationship? Whatever it is you want – how can you do this without getting drunk? Maybe this Christmas you can decide to do things differently! Decide to have just two drinks when you are out – or none. No hangovers! No rows! Try it – it might be easier than you think. Whatever you decide – it is up to you to make sure you stick to it.
Evelyn Burke, writer of the Minding Yourself column, is a counsellor and psychotherapist practising in Naas. Earlier this year she suffered a serious accident and unfortunately has been out of action and unable to write her column for some time but we wish her continuing recovery and look forward to her being back to full health.
She can be contacted at 087 4196675.
www.naascounselling.ie
Useful contacts: Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland www.bodywhys.ie AA, Leinster Phone Service 01 8527000 www.alcoholicsanonym ous.ie.