Are You Using Alcohol to Cope?

Nebraska LAP Coordinator, Michelle Hruska, LIMHP, LADC, says there are many ways health care professionals may recognize when alcohol consumption is being used as a coping mechanism. Common ways alcohol may be used as a coping mechanism include:

• To alleviate stress from work, family or school
• To avoid challenging situations such as seeing family members who don’t get along or having to be around someone that caused previous pain or was abusive
• To avoid difficult emotions
• To decrease anxiety in social settings
• To sleep
• To unwind after stressful days at work

“Some health care professionals use alcohol to cope with many different situations, and that’s usually what leads to an alcohol use disorder diagnosis,” Hruska said. “There’s a fine line between using alcohol to cope and using alcohol to the point where it becomes a disorder. There are healthier ways to cope with stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges.”

Hruska says many resources are available through the Nebraska Licensee Assistance Program to help health care professionals receive the crucial support they need.

Getting Help

If you or a health care professional you know is experiencing an alcohol or substance use disorder, please reach out to the Nebraska Licensee Assistance Program (NE LAP) at (800) 851-2336 or (402) 354-8055 to begin the recovery process. It’s never too late to seek help.