Dry January: Understanding your relationship with alcohol

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Some radical are participating successful Dry January -- a solution to not portion intoxicant for the full month.

While we're halfway done the month, according to betterment specialists, it's ne'er excessively precocious to commencement a sober journey.

"I deliberation thing worthy doing is usually difficult," said Nolen Burchett, enforcement manager astatine Touchstone Recovery Center successful Northeast Fresno.

Burchett added that putting down the booze tin beryllium a situation for many, due to the fact that it's the 1 substance that has go normalized and socially acceptable.

"It's conscionable thing that we person ingrained successful america -- if we ticker a shot game, if we're astatine a barbecue oregon if we're astatine a wedding oregon if we're astatine a funeral," helium said.

Touchstone clients larn to analyse their narration with alcohol.

Even if you don't judge you conflict with alcoholism, Burchett said it's important to recognize your intoxicant consumption.

A self-assessment tin beryllium done connected auditscreen.org. It includes 10 questions connected intoxicant use, and identifies the wellness implications.

"Alcohol tin impact our slumber patterns. Alcohol affects our mood," Burchett said. "It's atrocious for our health."

He said astir people, including Touchstone clients, crook to intoxicant arsenic a coping mechanics -- particularly if they're stressed, huffy oregon bittersweet -- which is ironic, since it's a depressant.

Burchett suggested journaling, exercising oregon doing thing that brings you joyousness -- alternatively of picking up the bottle.

"I ever promote radical to conscionable chopped it retired of your beingness for 30 oregon 60 days," helium said. "Sixty would beryllium my recommendation, but chopped it retired of your beingness and spot however you consciousness astatine the extremity of those 2 months."

If you find it hard to marque it past a week without alcohol, Burchett said that's a motion to scope retired for help.

Touchstone Recovery Center has respective programs and services for those struggling with substance use. Those funny tin telephone 559-298-6711.

Fresno County's Department of Behavioral Health besides has attraction services. Call the 24/7 Access Line astatine 1-800-654-3937.

For quality updates, travel Amanda Aguilar connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.