Caregivers and Alcohol: How Much is Too Much?

Updated on: March 29th, 2024 • Resource: Mental Health

Caregivers commonly turn to alcohol as a form of stress management. While moderate alcohol use has been shown to reduce stress, in excess, drinking is not an effective or healthy way to cope. It merely provides temporary relief, exposes caregivers to the risk of dependence, worsened mental health, and impaired decision-making.

alcohol abuse in caregivers — *Photo by monica di loxley on Unsplash*

Elderly patients or other people under your care must limit alcohol intake due to a variety of potential dangers such as reactions with medications, and injury due to impaired judgment. As a caregiver, you are faced with the the question of whether drinking alcohol is a meaningful approach to relieve the pressures of work and life in general.

Screening Tools: How to Tell if you Have a Problem

According to the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, drink limits for men and women vary due to their average size and physiological ability to metabolize alcohol. In general, they recommend no more than one drink a day (per 24-hours) for women and two for men.

While the above limits are useful, alcohol misuse may occur at any level of consumption. Another method of identifying problem drinking is through the use of screening tests such as:

CAGE Tool:

An acronym for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener, the CAGE questionnaire continues to be one of the most popular alcohol screening tools. Despite its popularity, CAGE may not successfully identify the beginning stages of alcohol misuse, causing some experts to consider the tool outdated.

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT):

Developed in the 1980s by the World Health Organization to screen for risky alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, AUDIT was updated in 2014 to better reflect current standards of drinking.

Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST):

The MAST, a 25-item questionnaire, provides a quick and effective screen for lifetime alcohol use and alcohol-related problems across a variety of different types of people.

Self-Administered Alcoholic Screening Test (SAAST):

The original Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test is a self-report alcoholism screening measure intended for use with adults concerned about their own drinking.

Calm Your Thinking without Drinking: Stress Management without Alcohol

Sure, the relief of a drink or two does set in rather quickly but as discussed above, you expose yourself to negative effects by slipping into a habit. Preserve your mental health through these alcohol-free tactics to reduce stress.

1. Remember R&R:

Rest and recharge frequently. Your work is essential, but you can’t provide effective care if you are overburdened or burnt out. Take frequent reasonable breaks to regain your strength and focus. This may be taking a break or making time to engage in a hobby.

2. Lean on Your Support System:

Seek support from friends, family or a professional. Talking with others who can relate to our challenges can provide a sense of validation and help with mental health struggles. They will also be able to provide practical advice that will help you handle your duties and manage your stressors.

3. Ready, Set, Boundaries:

Establish and maintain boundaries. Care can sometimes feel like an endless responsibility, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Establish and uphold the limits of your responsibilities. Give yourself permission to say “no” where you are being asked to do unreasonably more than you’ve agreed to do.