To Drink or Not to Drink

"Wellness" is about increasing healthy habits and reducing unhealthy ones. Many people say they use alcohol or other drugs to "feel good." Let's consider some reasons we may have for drinking, and for not drinking:

Positive aspects of drinking

• socializing
• relaxing
• fitting in
• having fun

Negative aspects of drinking

• losing control
• getting sick
• gaining weight
• having accidents

Making healthy choices for feeling good means learning what is healthy for us and doing them, and avoiding the unhealthy things we don't want. If your choices include drinking alcohol, think about drinking safely to avoid any negative consequences.

Sometimes we may feel we are the only person at an event who isn't drinking alcohol. Choosing to drink soda over beer is not something we need to defend. If you feel awkward, you could:

• find a friend who also is not drinking alcohol
• be the designated driver
• drink from a similar container (juice and soda can come in cups, bottles, and cans too)
• tell people you're on a "health kick"

If you feel harassed for your choices, you can always leave; you deserve better than to be around people who don't respect your choices.

If you know someone who may be having difficulty with alcohol and drinking, please encourage them to seek help. If you would like more information on alcohol and drug abuse, please visit http://www.therapeuticbenefits.com/ for resources and to schedule a free phone consultation.