Beer-brain bringing you down?

Since I’ve been feeling down and not moving around as much lately, I decided this is a good time for a slight beer break.

Did you know alcohol is a depressant? It affects your physical and mental state more than you know. Sure, that 16, 32, or 48 ounces feels euphoric, but there are underlining and after affects as well. We’ve all been there before - the hangovers that leave us utterly disgusted with ourselves, the foggy beer-brain that makes everyday tasks feel like a rubik’s cube we can’t solve, to the unnatural sleep patterns leaving us to our thoughts and a late night F.R.I.E.N.D.S. binge.

But, what if we didn’t have to deal with the aftermath? Alcohol can be your friend if you know how to enjoy it, drink moderately, and know when to take breaks.

I’m a proponent of beer breaks. Well, alcohol breaks, but “beer breaks” has a better flow to it. Am I right? Ok, back on track. I believe we need to listen to our mind, body, and soul. When we are tapped in, we know it’s time for a break. We know a cleanse is on the way. We know our mind isn’t functioning at its highest capacity and it’s time to recalibrate.

One thing I always remind myself of- the beer (or alcohol) will always be there when I’m ready to have a drink again.

So, as habitual as it may be - when you go to reach for a cold one, just take a moment and pause. Then, ask yourself do I really need or want this beer? Will this beer make me happy or am I escaping with it?

If you need help with this, don’t be ashamed. We all need help with different things in life. For instance, sometimes I can’t reach the top shelf at the store 😂. Okay, back to serious stuff. Help is just that...help. We learn in early stages of life to help others and accept help. We get by with more help than any of us realize. Remember The Beatles lyrics "I get by with a little help from my friends"? They meant it! So, Why should this be any different?

There are many resources out there and some of the best are your friends and family members. But it'd be short sighted for me to think everyone has that comfort. I encourage you to reach out to professionals who are available for you and your needs. Lifesavers is one of many online resources you can look into. Heck, you can even reach out to me for a listening ear, a funny joke, a sarcastic comment, a meme dump - whatever you need to smile and get through in the moment

Remember - check in with yourself and recalibrate as needed. You don't need to be constantly weighed down by the self-induced fog. And in case anyone is wondering, I still love beer. I just believe in balance and understanding oneself for maximum enjoyment of life.

With peace and love,

Jacque