coping with substance

abuse in your family?

substance abuse in your family > caregivers > coping with your own feelings > your health

YOUR HEALTH: ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND MEDICATIONS

Did you know that alcohol, prescription medications, and other drugs affect the body differently as you age?

Some caregivers find themselves drinking alcohol, taking more prescription or over-the-counter medications, or using other drugs more since they started caregiving. Stress and other feelings may lead you to seek relief from a drink or a pill. While an occasional drink to celebrate or relax is okay for most caregivers, regular or increasing use could be warning signs of overuse. If you had a problem with drugs or alcohol as a younger person, you may be especially vulnerable to overusing alcohol or other substances now that you are a caregiver again.

This kind of relief is temporary, and the costs usually outweigh the benefits. Overuse of alcohol, medication, or other drugs can impair your health and judgment, and hurt your family relationships. It is far better to find positive coping methods that do not involve the use of substances.

If you are over 60 years old, you need to be especially careful about overuse of alcohol, medication, and other drugs because these substances all affect the body differently with increasing age. To learn more about this, click <here>. (insert hyperlink to AOD & Aging page)

For children with substance abusing parents, a caregiver’s overuse of substances can be especially confusing or even frightening. And because these children are also at higher risk for developing drug or alcohol problems of their own, they need role models for positive coping without drugs or alcohol.

Positive coping

There are many positive ways of coping with the stresses of caregiving without overusing alcohol or other drugs (and medications are also drugs!). Taking good care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health will help. Learning relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or stretching can help. Developing and using social supports and doing activities that bring you joy will also work. Maintaining a hopeful outlook and surrounding yourself with positive people are some other ideas. Remember to take care of you!

How much is too much?

If you are not sure if you are overusing alcohol, medication, or other drugs or if someone has suggested you may have a problem but you’re not sure, here are some tips for finding out:

Remember, “one drink” equals
- one 12-ounce beer, or
- one 5-ounce glass of wine, or
- one, one-ounce shot of liquor.

Try this quick screening to determine if you might have a problem with overuse:
- Have you or anyone else ever suggested that you should cut down on your alcohol or drug use (including prescription medication)?
- Do you ever feel annoyed because of someone’s concern or comments about your use of alcohol or other substances (including prescription medication)?
- Do you ever feel guilty about how much or how frequently you use alcohol, medication, or other drugs?
- Do you ever have a drink or use medication or another drug first thing in the morning as an eye-opener, other than prescription medication that you are supposed to take in the morning according to the doctor’s orders?
- If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have an overuse problem.