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What Drinking When You're Stressed Could Be Doing To Your Brain

  • December 02, 2016

Drinking may not be the best way to deal with the holidays. That was the conclusion of a recent study by the journal Neuron. Animal studies suggested that imbibing during stressful times may put you on the fast track to a heavy drinking habit.

Stress management is an especially valuable skill during the winter season. Seasonal affective disorder coupled with the strains of the holidays can make an evening tipple seem awfully attractive. It is important to distinguish between the potential benefits of an occasional glass of wine and the very real dangers posed by habitual drinking.

If you are stressed out, I suggest trying the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to help remove negative emotions. EFT can help you reprogram your body's reactions to the unavoidable stressors of everyday life. Also, optimize your vitamin D levels and make sure to reseed your gut flora with beneficial bacteria from fermented foods or a high-quality probiotic.

There are many ways to bust stress without busting out the bottle. The first place to turn is to bed. Restorative and rejuvenating sleep are crucial to your health. You can have the best diet and exercise program possible, but if you aren't sleeping well your mental health can suffer.

Unhealthy foods abound throughout the year, but the holidays are a cornucopia of sugar and processed garbage. It is the presence of so many junk food options that may provide you with a unique opportunity to lead by example. Partake in only healthful choices and use the holidays as a forum to showcase the benefits of taking control of your health.