Have you found yourself reaching for a soothing glass of wine or three, or a hefty gin and tonic each night during lockdown?
While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a tipple, several of my patients, and even some of my friends, have said that since the lockdown began, they have found themselves drinking more than usual.
As a letter to a newspaper put it this week: ‘Please open the pubs again before we all turn into alcoholics!’
Latest figures show alcohol sales have increased by almost 300 per cent during the pandemic as drinking at home has become the only alternative to socialising over a pint or bottle of wine in a pub, bar or restaurant. Even those who, under normal circumstances, would never dream of drinking alone admit to a comforting glass.
And, of course, it is understandable. If you are working from home, then a drink is an easy way to draw a line under the working day.
Those who are stressed about the pandemic — fearful of falling ill or worried about the economic fallout — may find solace and relaxation in alcohol, or it can seem that way.
But there are risks — and suddenly it’s a habit you can’t quit.
Dr Max Pemberton (pictured) says a soothing glass of wine here and there can quickly turn into a habit
Doctors are concerned this period of isolation might lead to addiction in at-risk individuals or to relapse in recovered addicts, placing further strain on drug and alcohol services — and the health service in general.
Indeed, this could develop into yet more ‘collateral damage’ caused by the pandemic in the months and years to come.
In recent weeks, I’ve had several people tell me they’re worried how their own drinking — or that of their partner — has increased.
If this strikes a chord, my advice is to face up to the problem on a personal level or, if it’s a partner, family member or friend, then initiate a conversation — so here’s my guide to this sensitive subject.
1. Timing is key. Don’t discuss it when the person is drinking or drunk. It’s tough, I know, but far better to wait until they are sober and you are both calm.
2. Start sentences with ‘I’. Too many arguments turn into screaming accusations of: ‘You did this’ and ‘You did this that’. All it does is make the person defensive.
Try the following sentence formula: ‘I feel . . . (say how you feel), when . . . (calmly describe their behaviour), because . . .’ (describe the effect of their behaviour on you, other people or themselves).
3. Assess where they are at. Someone in the full throes of addiction is very different to a person teetering on the brink. In the latter case, he or she may know they have a problem and be secretly pleased it’s been noticed.
Someone who is addicted may also be aware of their problem but fearful of stopping. Be prepared for a negative reaction.
Dr Max: ‘In recent weeks, I’ve had several people tell me they’re worried how their own drinking — or that of their partner — has increased’ (stock image)
4. Keep it short. Having brief but multiple chats gives someone time to mull things over. By the second or third conversation, you may find they’re more amenable to the idea of getting help. But . . .
5. Don’t expect change overnight. Be absolutely firm about what is unacceptable behaviour — aggression or violence — but be flexible, too. If the drinking continues, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Just continue to offer support without dictating what they should do.
6. Focus on the present. Don’t dredge up what’s happened in the distant past or dwell on things the person has done or said when drunk. Stick to the problem at hand and what you can both do. And don’t forget to . . .
7. Listen. A person is more likely to confide in you if you don’t constantly interrupt or criticise. You can ask questions, but make them open-ended — ask ‘why’, ‘how’, and ‘what if’?
But if you are finding it difficult to talk . . .
8. Write a letter. Some people find it difficult to express themselves verbally. Writing allows you to take your time and organise your thoughts. Share your letter and suggest a follow-up conversation when you’re both ready.
9. Encourage them to speak to a professional. If someone is addicted to alcohol, then stopping cold turkey can be dangerous. A GP will assess and decide if medication is needed to safely wean them off alcohol.
10. Get support. Charities such as Adfam or Al-Anon help families affected by drugs or alcohol. Further resources are available on the NHS website (nhs.uk).
Dapper Tom gives us a smart lesson
What an inspiration Captain Tom Moore — or should I say Colonel Tom now — is!
Not only has the 100-year-old war veteran raised over £32million (and counting!) for the NHS, but he has managed to look effortlessly dapper while doing so, whether he’s doing laps of his garden on his Zimmer or being interviewed on TV.
We should all take note. Appearance can provide a valuable insight into one’s mental state.
Often, when someone is sliding into depression, they stop bothering with personal care. One professor of psychiatry I used to work for would say that he really started to worry about his patients when they stopped brushing their hair.
A slovenly, scruffy appearance can impact on our moods — especially in lockdown.
So let’s take Colonel Tom as our role model. Ditch the trackie bottoms and hoodies covered in toast crumbs, please, and spruce up. You’ll feel instantly better.
Dapper Captain Tom Moore gives a thumbs up after being promoted to Honorary Colonel by Royal assent on his 100th birthday in Marston Moretaine
We’re so grateful for your support
I am so incredibly proud of working for this newspaper, which has helped source and deliver an incredible 20 tons of vital personal protection equipment (PPE) worth £1 million to healthcare workers on the coronavirus frontline in hospitals and care homes via a new Daily Mail-backed charity, Mail Force.
And, of course, I am proud of its readers, too, who are supporting the charity’s endeavour. To date, donations have reached £5 million.
I can’t emphasise enough how much this means to us. In the hospital trust where I work many members of staff have fallen sick with Covid-19 and one colleague has sadly died.
Of course, it’s down to the NHS managers and the Government to ensure we’re adequately protected and, quite frankly, they should be ashamed of themselves for the dire shortage of PPE.
Confronted with so many sick and scared patients, clinical staff can often feel alone in all this. But the support of Mail Force reminds healthcare workers that we really are all in this together and that all of you are rooting for us. So, an enormous thank you, because it means the world.
The Daily Mail’s consignment of PPE medical equipment is pictured in Shanghai as it is loaded aboard a Mail chartered plane
Fight flab to help the NHS
Researchers at Liverpool University and Imperial College London this week confirmed a suspected link between obesity and deaths from the Covid-19 virus. Obese people hospitalised with the virus are 37 per cent more likely to die than slimmer patients.
Only people with dementia are more at risk than the obese, with death rates at 39 per cent.
This study is the first to conclusively show what doctors have known for several months — obesity is a major risk factor for more severe symptoms.
If this isn’t enough to motivate us all — as individuals and as a nation — to deal with the obesity epidemic, I don’t know what is. If you’re overweight and love the NHS, it’s your duty to fix your diet and start exercising. No excuses.