The term “a wine mom” comes from an Internet meme. Jokes occurring in the Web seem to be temporary and, in most cases, invented, however, this one is based on the reality of many people around the world, especially women. Unlike many other memes, the name of “a wine mom” speaks for itself. This is how it is defined by the Urban Dictionary: “Women who are in the older crowd(Usually mothers) that sip wine throughout the night, and sometimes post on social media about it. Their posts are abnormally sincere, with comments made by fellow wine moms, relatives, or other parents.”
Strange it may seem, a wine mom does not usually have kids. The trend became widespread quickly so that other women supported it not depending on the number of kids they have. The parameters of a wine mom are the following: lose comfortable clothing, sitting or lying in a tab or couch, and drinking alcohol on a regular basis (as per usual, every night or day). When described out of a fun-on-Twitter context, this phenomena becomes clearly a lifestyle choice that can lead to addiction.
Why wine mom is not a wine person
Parenthood is not easy. It is quite evident that the motherhood function often happens when a future mom does not expect that and has to deal with it at the same time as other human problems occur. Combining economic preoccupations, household duties, and motherhood often leads to a stressful life. In such a way, regular alcohol consumption may become a resolution to relieve the stress and make complicated days more “fun.” In fact, the part of the explanation of women’s consumption patterns lies in the culture where the division of labor, in particular, unpaid work at home, is still unequal between men and women. This cause of alcohol addiction is widely noted and taken into account by facilities proposing rehabilitation programs for women (Addiction Resource provides a guide).
Why women abuse alcohol
There are some other reasons for a woman to consume alcohol on a systematic basis. First of all, unlike drug substances, alcohol is permitted and mostly approved by society (at least, one that reads Facebook and Twitter) if considered as a joke rather than a problem. However, a wine mom who becomes an alcoholic may successfully avoid the social environment staying at home with kids or alone and alcoholic drinks. Only a few years ago, women tended to drink alone, in secret. Emancipated, they now have an uninhibited use, equally in the bistro or at a business lunch. It is common to see a woman ordering a beer at the counter, sipping a glass of wine on the terrace of a cafe or enjoying champagne in the evening. Equality between men and women is effective on this point. The difference is in the personal experience of the woman who often feels ashamed. Women’s alcoholism is still viewed by society as a strict taboo preventing them from consulting women only treatment centers. In the collective imagination, a woman who admits to binge drinking is a drunkard who neglects her home.
Women tend to feel more guilty than male individuals, primarily because of their relationship with children. Under the influence of alcohol drinks, they can not provide the necessary care for their offspring even if they seem to feel more fun being a drunk parent. In order to avoid losing custody of their children, especially in the case of single-parent families, women set up some strategies: they hide to consume more alcohol, hide bottles, avoid drinking before picking up their children at school.
How alcohol influences a female person
It is often a lack of education which leads to the fact that the lifestyle of a wine mom becomes an addiction. For women abusing alcohol, the consequences can be more dangerous than they are for men. Women are more vulnerable than men to the effects of alcohol because of their differences in weight and body structure and the way they metabolize alcohol. In such a way, girls have a higher concentration of ethanol in blood than boys if they consume the same amount of alcohol. At equal consumption, women are exposed to particular risks because alcohol dilutes less in the muscle mass. They are subject to hormonal fluctuations, are more prone to weight gain or weight loss, more likely, to develop liver cirrhosis, tumors, breast cancer. The brain is also more fragile and more quickly damaged. It is proved that, no matter the reasons, women are just as likely as men to develop an alcohol addiction, though gender differences should be considered while creating programs for recovery centers for women.
How to quit this harmful lifestyle
The first step is the determination to stop. The truth is that one can not force another person to undergo the treatment. After that, detox comes first in treatment programs of specialized female rehab centers, with sedatives to compensate for the lack. Then, it is essential to work with the family, follow psychotherapy, in AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) groups or individually, and attend medical consultations to resolve health problems. However, it is crucial that the person is ready to begin a process and take the first step towards healing. The potential relapse is not a reason to give up; it is part of the treatment. People surrounding such a person should make sure that she or he does not feel guilty and goes back to the treatment. All in all, the people surrounding a person undergoing the treatment process, in particular, the medical staff, must value the patient.
Finally, a woman who remarks that her wine mom lifestyle becomes a huge problem for her and her family should not be discouraged. Alcoholism is a problem that people get out of, and it just takes some time and consideration. It is necessary to be accompanied and agree to meet professionals at a women’s rehab. Alcoholism is a disease, not a vice, not a flaw.
About the Author
Thanush Poulsen is a Danish health columnist who is concerned about global public health trying to make the life of every individual better.
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