It’s Sunday night, why do I have “The Fear”?

Paranoia, regret, the craving for the leftover pizza in the fridge. Most of us have gone through the pain of the Sunday evening following the over-indulgent Saturday night. “The Fear” is unfortunately just a playful way of describing a form of anxiety which we are inflicting upon ourselves. Whether it’s the thought of going back into the office wondering what you may have said to your boss on a night out or trying to piece together why you got in an argument with your best friend over who was buying the next round, the effects of too much alcohol are plain for all to see.

Modern science and government campaigns tells us factually and graphically about the effects smoking has on our bodies, this education as greatly reduced the number of smokers in Ireland over recent years. So why do we continue to over-indulge when it come to Ireland’s favourite past-time?
Alcohol is a depressant, it slows down our nervous system, allowing us to “chill out” and get away from our stresses. A beer with some friends after a busy day in the office? A nice way to destress for sure. Eight pints and three shots of tequila on the way to the club? You’re so relaxed now, that you can barely remember whether you had a coat, let alone if you’ve lost it or not! As you drink, your nervous system is slowed down, creating this sense of relaxation, however when the alcohol begins to leave your system the following morning, everything kicks back into overdrive. Blaming the Red Bull for those heart palpitations isn’t the answer, your body is working overtime trying to expel toxins that you’ve willingly pumped in! You’re essentially challenging your body to fix itself on a regular basis.

Conversely, modern science also tells us that exercise releases endorphins and adrenalin which not only help to increase our physical fitness levels but also create a positive platform for us to build upon in our daily lives. Regular exercise can extend our lives, leads to better sleep and relaxation, helps our bodies to fight off diseases, such as cancers and give us a sense of fulfilment in our achievements.
We know alcohol is bad for us, we know exercise is good for us. All that’s left for us to do is break the habit, make a conscience decision to look after our bodies, partake in activities where we’ll meet like-minded individuals and enjoy all the benefits that come with it.
So as you lie in bed getting angrier at each Instagram post of someone enjoying a stroll and an ice-cream along Dun Laoghaire pier on a bright Sunday afternoon, think about how much more prepared for the coming days you’ll be if you embrace everything you already know and give your body and mind a chance to prepare. Take a quick walk around the block, fire off 10 push-ups, run to the top of the road and back. We know what endorphins do for our bodies, they help create a positive environment for us to flourish in.
We don’t need to run a marathon or swear off drink forever, but making a conscience effort to improve our lives, one step at a time, will only enhance the already amazing culture of our great little island.
