Here at Equilibrium Healthcare we have seen a rise in alcohol related illness. We have treated severe injuries related to acute intoxication and counselled families and friends of those who didn’t make it through.  We have managed extreme anxiety and suicidal depression related to regular alcohol use. We have treated a host of medical conditions, from high blood pressure to liver disease and cancer.

We decided that it’s time to reset. To look at what we are doing and what we could do better to reduce the suffering found at the bottom of a bottle.

What is Alcohol? What does it do?

https://druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au/alcohol/about-alcohol

Do you know how much you drink?

It might be more than you think.

A standard serve of alcohol is 10g of alcohol. A schooner of full strength beer is 1.5 standard serves.

Your two or three glasses of wine might actually be 6 or 7 serves, depending on your glass. A bottle of wine will hold around 7.5 standard serves.

Have a look at this chart to find how much alcohol you are actually drinking.

https://prod--slnsw-corporate-site.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018-10/standard-drinks-guide-card.pdf

How much should you be drinking?

Technically there is no safe amount, but if you do choose to drink, the Australian Guidelines recommend healthy adults should drink no more than 2 standard serves on any day. They also recommend consuming a maximum of 4 standard drinks on a single occasion, preferably spaced out over time.

It’s quite possible that everyone around you drinks more than this. So ’normal’ might actually be too much.

Do you have a problem?

Some people find it hard to go a day without drinking, or to limit the number of drinks they have at any one time. This kind of low-level dependence can gradually increase over time until alcohol becomes a real problem.

Signs that you may have a problem with your drinking:

• you are drinking more than is recommended in the Australian Guidelines
• you or others are worried about how much you drink
• you need to drink more to feel the same effects
• you crave alcohol
• alcohol is affecting your physical or mental health
• you don't feel in control of your drinking - you can't cut down or stop even if you want to
• your drinking is interfering with your relationships or job
• you experience physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, anxiety or vomiting when you don't have a drink.

What are the benefits of cutting down?

Apart from reducing injuries and health conditions, cutting back on your alcohol can improve your mood, your sleep, your relationships and help you to lose weight and even save money. 

Tips to reduce your intake

• set yourself a drinks limit and stick to it
• count your drinks - remember, a drink in a bar or restaurant might contain more than one standard drink
• drink water before you start drinking alcohol to quench your thirst
• choose lower alcohol alternatives (We have asked local bottle shops and bars to increase these options available, you should too.)
• drink slowly
• eat before and while you're drinking
• finish your drink before you start another - try not to top up drinks as you might lose track of how many you’ve had
• opt for a non-alcoholic drink in between alcoholic drinks
• be active while you are drinking - play pool or dance rather than sit

Remember, we are here to help, not to make life difficult. If you think you have an alcohol problem or have concerns and don’t quite know what to do next, come and have a chat with us so that we can help you in the right direction. Sometimes drinking is triggered by anxiety, depression or stresses in our lives. Tackling those issues can also help with addressing your alcohol consumption.

Our doctors are trained to work with you to get things under control and our psychologist Melanie Forster has a particular interest in the area. We are non judgemental, our only concern is improving your wellbeing.

The first step is as easy as booking an appointment here.