Refresh Your Resolution

December’s festivities have only just come to an end and now that January is here the tides have turned. We spent months of build up being encouraged to spend and overindulge – drinking an average 41% more in December than any other month. Yet in a blink of an eye, the media cascades tidings of woe, inflicting guilt and regret across the nation.

Beat the blues.

Many of us will be returning to work bleary-eyed, in January, looking to counteract December’s excesses. Some of us will be after the “quick-fix” option of giving up alcohol for a month, joining charitable campaigns like Dry January or Dryathalon. Others will be launching into January with the good intention of setting resolutions (yet again) to live healthier and happier lives – looking to cut down on alcohol or other drugs.

But with three out of five of us breaking resolutions by the end of January, repeating mistakes from past years is not the answer. And while a month off alcohol might briefly benefit our waistlines and wallets, these are fleeting feats and are no replacement for a detox.

Refresh your resolution.

“The key is to focus your energy and time on little goals to help achieve a larger one,” says Katy from Bristol Drugs Project (BDP), a local charity here to provide you with free support to help you stick with your resolution and reach your goals around alcohol and drug use – whether it be taking control, cutting down or quitting.

“BDP provide me with a supportive environment where I can discuss my habit. They help me to set achievable goals along the road to dealing with it,” shares a BDP service user addressing their drug use.

“Addressing drink or drug use can feel like a challenging task for many of us,” explains Katy. “We often set ourselves up for failure by having unrealistic expectations and trying to do too much at once. When the goal posts are too wide, we’re more likely to slip up. At BDP we work with you to set realistic and achievable goals, building your confidence and giving you the tools to keep the momentum going.”

 “I’ve learnt tips and advice from other people just like me,” says a service user at a BDP group workshop. “We share how we feel and how to cope better. It helps me commit and try to meet the goals I set.”

Get free support.

BDP understand that not everyone who uses alcohol or drugs has a problem, but sometimes over time, a social drink, drop, dab, smoke, snort or bomb can escalate from enjoyment into a necessity, affecting our health, emotions, relationships, routine and ambitions.

If you’re planning on setting a new year’s resolution and would like some help, contact BDP for free, non-judgemental and confidential support. Call 0117 987 6000 or visit them for a chat in central Bristol at BDP, 11 Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE (Mon-Fri: 9am-8pm, Sat: 10am-5pm).

BDP have put together a few suggestions to help you reach your goal:

• Take control. Keep a diary of your alcohol or drug use. Note the amounts consumed and spent. Begin delaying the time you begin drinking or using drugs, or plan substance free days. Alcohol withdrawal is dangerous, so seek professional support.
• It’s basic biology. Neurotransmitters in our brain are responsible for happiness. By choosing activities that trigger their release we can take back control of how and when we experience happiness: Achievement stimulates dopamine, purposeful activity stimulates serotonin, connecting with other people stimulates oxytocin and exercise stimulates endorphins.
• Sleep and eat. When blood sugar drops we feel  tired, irritable, and depressed – increasing cravings for alcohol or drugs as we seeks to relieve poor mood. Eat regularly to keep your sugar levels steady and choose foods that release energy slowly.
• Get personalised advice. Find out how your use compares to others, visit www.drinksmeter.com and www.drugsmeter.com.