Deflect anxiety levels during lockdown alcohol starvation
Find other means to cope during the lockdown period
WHILE anxiety has developed in many South African households with alcohol supplies running dry and stress-relieving sundowners having to be put on hold during the lockdown period, the good news is that the situation has been good for the health and easy on the pocket.
A media release indicated South Africans’ reliance on their daily tipple was highlighted by a 500% spike in local Google searches on the alcohol ban and homemade booze recipes, while reports of bootlegging, bartering and supplies being traded on WhatsApp groups abound.
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Further tension crept in after President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the lockdown to the end of April, crushing peoples hopes of replenishing their depleted stocks last Friday.
According to Dr Lize Weich of the substance abuse special interest group of the South African Society of Psychiatrists, individuals who consume two to three standard drinks a day are unlikely to experience severe withdrawal symptoms, although they may experience ‘some subjective discomfort’.
People use substances such as alcohol to cope with reality, especially during this uncertain period which is increasing stress, anxiety and depression rates.
Therefore people need to implement strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, home-based exercise and healthy distractions such as hobbies and reading, or learning a new skill and drawing on the wealth of online resources for how-to and self-help to substitute the alcohol consumption.
Alcohol has negative effects on the human body and it’s organs.
The lockdown is therefore a good motivator to improve overall health to avoid contracting Covid-19.
Individuals who experience significant withdrawal symptoms such as increased anxiety, difficulty in sleeping, physical symptoms such as tremors, headaches, sweating or nausea, or more severe effects such as hallucinations or seizures, should consult a medical practitioner or use online medical help resources to avoid face-to-face contact if possible.
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