Looking After Your Wellbeing this Stress Awareness Month
April marks Stress Awareness Month, a time to reflect on how stress affects our daily lives and the steps we can take to manage it. With ongoing pressures from work, home life, and the wider world, it’s understandable that many of us feel overwhelmed at times. While there are different ways people try to cope with stress, some coping strategies, like drinking alcohol, may have unintended effects on our wellbeing.
It’s common for people to use alcohol as a way to unwind or relax. While it may feel helpful in the short term, alcohol can actually increase stress and anxiety over time.
Alcohol Counsellor, Yvonne, submitted a photo of a Squirrel taking a walk whilst on a walk to help manage stress.
Regular or heavy drinking can affect brain chemistry, disrupt sleep, and reduce our ability to cope with everyday challenges. Over time, this can create a cycle where stress leads to drinking, and drinking leads to more stress.
Being aware of this connection is an important step towards making healthier choices.
When stress builds up, it’s easy to become self-critical. Practising self-compassion can make a real difference.
Take time to check in with yourself and recognise when you need rest or support. Speak to yourself with the same kindness you would offer to others, and remember that it’s okay not to have everything under control all the time.
Looking after your physical health can help support your mental wellbeing.
Eating a balanced diet, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, helps maintain energy levels and mood. At the same time, reducing alcohol intake can improve sleep, lower anxiety, and help you feel more in control. Even small changes can have a positive impact.
If you’re thinking about cutting down on alcohol or are concerned about how it may be affecting your stress levels, support is available.