Drink sensibly

We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.

When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way the alcohol has affected your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings.

Apart from the damage too much alcohol can do to your body, you would need more and more alcohol each time to feel the same short-term boost. There are healthier ways of coping with tough times.

Occasional light drinking is perfectly healthy and enjoyable for most people.

Stay within the recommended daily alcohol limits:

3 to 4 units a day for men.

2 to 3 units a day for women.

Many people also smoke or use drugs or other substances to change how they feel. But, again, the effects are short-lived. Just like alcohol, the more you use, the more you crave. Nicotine and drugs don’t deal with the causes of difficult feelings. They don’t solve problems, they create them.

Mental Health Foundation
/www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/looking-after-your-mental-health/drink-sensibly

#MHAW17
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

More advice

More advice on drinking sensibly can obtained from the OneYou Shop in Park Mall, Ashford or

from the OneYou website
www.nhs.uk/oneyou/drinking