Expat Living: Maintaining Moderation with Alcohol

Maintaining Moderation with Alcohol

By Katy Clements

Living abroad, though exciting, can be incredibly stressful. Not only are we separated from the people and places that we are familiar with, but we also become more aware of our own thoughts as we begin to learn how to adapt to our new surroundings. In times of high stress or deep depression, it can become tempting to numb our feelings with alcohol regularly. Having drinks with friends can be a way to unwind and destress after a busy workday. However, for people that become addicted to the numbing sensation that alcohol gives, becoming dependent on it can be dangerous to your health, career, and relationships. People struggling with these issues should not be shamed or belittled but understood and listened to so that friends and family can find a root cause. As an expat apart from my family and comforts, I began to think that I was a more entertaining person when I drank. However, as I grew older, married, and decided to remain in Korea long term, my loved ones saw that I needed to confront my issues, both past and present.

The first thing that alcohol begins to effect is our quality of sleep. Sleep is important so that we can function in our jobs. Without a proper REM (rapid eye movement) cycle, our bodies are unable to digest normally, or make the proper repairs. A lack of sleep can contribute to the inability to concentrate and make decisions. As a teacher, these two things are the most crucial part of my job, and the inability to use them properly could be detrimental. Even though alcohol acts as a sedative and can cause you to sleep, your body is not getting the proper type of sleep and thus cannot properly digest the alcohol that has entered your blood stream.

To offset these results, it would be best for a person to try to quit drinking at least four hours before bedtime. Another aspect affected by alcohol is its effect on our digestive system. Alcohol is a depressant, and it slows are body’s ability to burn fat and process nutrients until the alcohol is out of our system. This is bad news to people who are trying to control weight gain or loss. If you are too nauseated to eat or hold in food, you will not be able to store the vitamins necessary to thrive, thus leading to dangerous weight loss. In juxtaposition, if you are trying to lose weight, your body will behave sluggishly. To offset these results, it is best to drink in moderation and during meals because the food will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. A third thing that alcohol will affect is your mood. Alcohol is a depressant, and if you are already stressed and depressed, then your mood will get much worse.

A major contributor to alcohol consumption can be past or present trauma. If a person has a stressor that they have never confronted, or still haunts them, then alcohol can be used as a coping mechanism. If this is you or a loved one, then helping to confront that fear is key to helping them pursue a healthier lifestyle. A person who is suffering needs to be assured that they are loved regardless of what happened to them and that they can be open with you. If this is the case, I recommend seeing a psychiatrist in Korea. ▲ An application (left) the author uses to keep track of her intake over time. If she sees that she is partaking too much, As an American, I was she can adjust accordingly. A website (right) that the author likes to visit to seek support from other people. used to being charged an arm and a leg for Sometimes, it is not easy to resist drinking in large healthcare. I had never considered my mental health quantities. If you find yourself unable to say “no” to drinks because I could not afford to, but now I can rest assured offered by friends, then you should not feel ashamed that I can receive affordable and quality care. There are or embarrassed to reach out for help. Lately, the taboo also people who need to be aware of their family’s history regarding seeking help in Korea has been challenged, with alcohol. If one of their parents or grandparents had and mental health is now covered by the national struggled with dependency, then they should keep an eye healthcare system. The professionals I have encountered on their own habits and try to use moderation. It could be have all been kind, considerate, and accommodating. that they are at greater risk for heart disease or diabetes. Additionally, there are a few online programs and apps I would like to mention. The first is an AA app for people In conclusion, I want to emphasize that drinking alcohol who are wanting to quit drinking entirely, if you type is not bad or reckless but should be kept in-check for “AA” into GooglePlay, many apps will appear, and the better health and happiness, especially now that people ones I used do not cost money. They reward you with are under a tremendous amount of stress. If you feel that medals the longer the user stays sober. However, there you want help moderating your usage or quitting entirely, are also applications that simply help a person modify please look for the applications I recommended or visit their habit. The application I currently use to monitor my www.aa.org. habits is called AlcoDroid, and it is free on GooglePlay. With this app, you can add your drinks, and it will calculate your BAC (blood alcohol content) and track The Author Katy Clements is from America and lives in your habits so that you can help moderate yourself. If you Mokpo. She has a degree in criminology and are looking to connect with people and have face-to-face sociology. In her free time, she usually enjoys conversations, then a quick web search will yield many reading and watching movies. She wishes results. Generally, these people do not ask for money everyone a happy spring and is looking forward upfront, but you have an option to donate if you can. to cherry blossom season.