How alcohol affects resilience
Alcohol can sometimes look like resilience dressed in disguise. A drink almost instantly blunts stress — but the effects are short-lived.
Biologically, alcohol sedates first and stresses later. It disrupts sleep, increases cortisol and narrows your emotional tolerance.
The rebound from alcohol can heighten anxiety and disrupt your emotions. Over time, a nightly drop can chip away at your resilience.
If you’d like to experiment with drinking less alcohol, here are some tips.
Replace the ritual, not just the drink. Swap out a glass of wine and your favourite show for a sleepy tea and a comfort read.
Tell yourself you’ll wait 20 minutes. Sometimes this is enough for the first wave of craving to pass — and you’ll realise you don’t want the drink as much as you thought.
Use a smaller glass. Low-alcohol options can help here, too.
Prioritise eating well and drinking plenty of water. After a balanced, satiating meal, you may find you no longer want an alcoholic drink.