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Prevention Action Alliance
Know! To Examine YOUR COVID-19 Coping Skills
Teachers, we encourage you to share this Know! tip with parents in your
network to help them guide their teens and tweens during this pandemic.
The world as we knew it has changed due to COVID-19. Even as governors
talk about ending some social distancing protections, people’s
physical, mental, and emotional health remain at risk. As a nation,
we’ve been checking in, reaching out, and helping our families,
friends, and complete strangers. The question is, have you checked in
with YOURSELF? How are you feeling, and what coping strategies are you
using to deal with this newfound or added anxiety, stress, and
uncertainty for the future?
Some People are Coping with Alcohol
If you’re unlocking the liquor cabinet as a way to de-stress during
these challenging times, you’re not alone. According to research
conducted by Nielsen, alcohol sales have skyrocketed. In comparison to
last year, in the week ending March 21, 2020:
U.S. alcohol sales increased 55%
Beer sales increased 42%
Wine sales increased 66%
Spirits sales such as tequila, gin, and pre-mixed cocktails increased 75%
Online alcohol sales increased 243%
Alcohol has unfortunately become the go-to coping strategy for far too
many, and it’s being further normalized through social media. If you’ve
been online lately, you’ve no doubt seen many friends and celebrities
alike raising a glass to drinking their way through these times. Or how
about all the folks gathering virtually on Zoom or Google Hangout to
share a drink?
There is nothing wrong with enjoying an occasional glass of wine or a
mixed drink at home (so long as you are of age and are cleared to do so
by your doctor). However, when you’re pouring a drink to deal with
stress it increases the potential to experience problematic drinking.
Alcohol is an Unhealthy Coping Mechanism
According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking too much alcohol on a single
occasion or over a period of time can cause significant health
problems, including a weakened immune system. In turn, this makes it
harder for your body to resist disease, and increases your risk of
various illnesses, especially pneumonia. Weakening our immune system
goes against everything we are trying to accomplish during this time.
And when it comes to relieving stress and anxiety, drinking can
actually worsen the situation, as alcohol alters levels of serotonin
(which regulates mood and happiness), along with other
neurotransmitters in the brain.
How much is too much? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) says there are three levels of drinking, two of
which are problematic:
Moderate Drinking: 1 drink per day for women of legal drinking age and up to 2 drinks per day for men of legal drinking age.
Binge Drinking: 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men
- consumed within about 2 hours; or a pattern of drinking that brings
blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher.
Heavy Alcohol Use: 4 drinks or more on any day for men or more than 3 drinks for women.
Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use are absolutely problematic. If you
find yourself or your loved ones to be drinking this much, seek help
from a professional at findtreatment.gov. Even with moderate drinking
however, one should take caution that alcohol is not being used to cope
with stress, anxiety, or boredom.
While gyms are closed and we cannot socialize in-person, we can still
take walks, breathe in the fresh air, meditate, reach out to friends,
and be there for our families.
Lastly, you should be aware of how your coping skills and the choices
you’re making now are impacting your children. The example you set
today will impact and influence your children and how they deal with
stress and anxiety during this crisis and future crises.
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