Today, Time Magazine published an article featuring expert insights on alcohol addiction and helpful advice for people who are trying to cut back on their consumption of alcohol.
Among the experts interviewed is UCLA clinical psychology professor Lara Ray, who’s found that many people are able to successfully replace their drinking habits with hobbies and interests they find deeply rewarding.
Here is an excerpt.
It’s no surprise, then, that even if it feels good in the moment, most experts don’t consider drinking a healthy way to escape real life. It’s a “maladaptive coping strategy,” says Lara Ray, a psychologist who runs the UCLA Addictions Laboratory. “A lot of people end up using alcohol excessively because they’re trying to cope with stressors—be it family or romantic relationships, or financial stressors.” But that’s not going to benefit you over the long run, which is why instead, it’s smart to look for an alternative. “It should be healthier than alcohol, and you should have multiple outlets,” Ray says. “We’re substituting this ineffective coping strategy—‘I’m so stressed, so I drink’—with an effective coping strategy, which is ‘I’m stressed, so maybe I talk to my partner, I talk to my friends, I call my therapist.’”
When you’re trying to figure out what to do instead of drink, think broadly about what will satisfy your needs, Ray encourages. She’s found that many people have luck rediscovering long-forgotten hobbies, like running, cooking, or crafting. Plus, research suggests that people who regularly engage in hobbies have fewer symptoms of depression and better health, happiness, and life satisfaction than those who don’t. “We want folks to draw upon their life experiences and see, what do they find rewarding?’” Ray says. “It could be volunteering; it could be playing volleyball.”
Read full Time Magazine article here: https://time.com/7212972/how-to-relax-without-alcohol/