By Chandrama Anderson
E-mail Chandrama Anderson
About this blog: About this blog: I am a LMFT specializing in couples counseling and grief and have lived in Silicon Valley since 1969. I'm the president of Connect2 Marriage Counseling. I worked in high-tech at Apple, Stanford University, and in ...
(More)About this blog: About this blog: I am a LMFT specializing in couples counseling and grief and have lived in Silicon Valley since 1969. I'm the president of Connect2 Marriage Counseling. I worked in high-tech at Apple, Stanford University, and in Silicon Valley for 15 years before becoming a therapist. My background in high-tech is helpful in understanding local couples' dynamics and the pressures of living here. I am a wife, mom, sister, friend, author, and lifelong advocate for causes I believe in (such as marriage equality). My parents are both deceased. My son graduated culinary school and is heading toward a degree in Sociology. I enjoy reading, hiking, water fitness, movies, 49ers and Stanford football, Giants baseball, and riding a tandem bike with my husband. I love the beach and mountains; nature is my place of restoration. In my work with couples, and in this blog, I combine knowledge from many fields to bring you my best ideas, tips, tools and skills, plus book and movie reviews, and musings to help you be your genuine self, find your own voice, and have a happy and healthy relationship. Don't be surprised to hear about brain research and business skills, self-soothing techniques from all walks of life, suggestions and experiments, and anything that lights my passion for couples. (Author and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Calif. Lic # MFC 45204.)
(Hide)View all posts from Chandrama Anderson
The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time, filled with cheer, family, friends and love.
Yet your reality may be different from that. It can be easy to drink too much to drown out the pain of the mismatch between the expected cheer and the actual feelings you have.
Between the gifts of alcohol and the alcohol served at parties, it's possible to slip into drinking more than may be healthy for you. And that amount differs for each person.
Alcohol is a depressant. So if you're already suffering, alcohol will make your mood worse.
Also, if you're having trouble sleeping, don't drink caffeine or alcohol after 4PM.
Many people can drink in moderation. And others cannot.
So pay close attention to your own drinking:
- Why do you want a drink (or several) right now?
- Are there feelings you're avoiding by drinking?
- Are there people you are avoiding by drinking?
- How would it feel to be at a party and not drink?
- Have you had enough for today/tonight?
I know this is a message we've all heard many times, and it bears repeating: whatever you choose to do about alcohol this holiday season, have a non-drinking driver designated.
In the healthiest way possible, enjoy your holiday spirits.
