Australians have a drinking culture.
My relationship with alcohol began well before the legal age of 18. I remember getting older friends to buy a friend and I a bottle of "Blackberry Nip". In my naivety thinking it would taste like the sips that mum allowed me of hers, not realising you had to mix it with a lemonade.
So there we were at the local Agriculture show with our bottle of alcohol and a can of lemonade, grimacing our way to mild intoxication. That was the beginning of binge drinking sessions most weekends ending in the inevitable hangover. Recovery through the weekday then sessions again on the weekend.
Poor decisions were sometimes made, but we were young and having fun.....and luckily pre mobile phones, so no lasting physical record of events, only hazy memories.
My partying days ground to a halt when I became a young mother and the subsequent years were fairly quiet drinking days. Then I started a shift work job with an emergency service and the social activities increased dramatically. Writing this I'm not actually sure when drinking alcohol became a regular feature in my life, but I have a couple of standard drinks most days that I am not working.
I drink if I've had a bad day. I drink to celebrate. I drink after mowing for hours on end in the heat....I think I earn these ones! I love the downtime and relaxation that comes with an alcoholic drink. But it does concern me that it is a habit to drink, that I fixate on not drinking on those days, and I really look forward to having a drink.
The other problem with drinking is the lack of will power that goes with it. It's very easy to eat the whole bag of chips, the cheese and crackers and dip...they just go so well with a nice cold white wine on a Summers day or a warming red in Winter, or a beer.....you get the picture, lol.
Now before you sign me up for AA, I am a very disciplined person. I generally make a 750ml bottle of wine last 3 days, and I have a number of alcohol free days a week. I've really lashed out if I drink a half a bottle in one sitting....and I feel a little dusty for it. I'm definitely a light weight in the drinking stakes.
I have noticed a couple of things, and I think it is linked to going through menopause. My hot flushes are worse when I've drank alcohol, and not just the few hours after, but days after, and my moods and temper are worse. I'm just not that nice a person.
Not a pretty picture is it!?
And yet the thought of not drinking for the month of February has certainly caused me to think hard on my relationship with alcohol.... and full disclosure..... some angst.
I think the hardest part is I'm better at not having any rather than moderation and I'm not sure I don't want to not drink alcohol at all, because I enjoy it. And this is despite knowing the benefits to my health and wallet.
How much do you drink? Do you think you have a problem? Do you think I have a problem? Have you experienced family issues from alcohol?
If this raises any concerns for you or a loved one, there are a number of counselling organisations and helplines or speak to your family doctor. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/drug-help
All food for thought. How do you think I'll go? Check out my week 4 blog post to see how I went and my conclusion.
Be free to live your best life
Comments