weir: rethinking drinking
forgive yourself for wanting to blunt the stress of a health crisis with a glass of wine. but keep an eye on how much you are drinking.
3 minute read
shirley weir is the founder of menopause chicks
while making dinner last night, these words were broadcast from the television in the family room: “and after the commercial break: alcohol sales on the rise amidst covid-19 crisis.â€
but that’s not what i heard.
i heard, “people are drinking more. they are self-medicating and it’s a problem.â€
i also heard, “oh my goodness, shirley, are you drinking more, and is this a problem?â€
then, as i often do before making a decision based on a headline, i started to question it.
are alcohol sales up because people are drinking more? or, is it a result of the stock piling mentality that swept the continent a few weeks ago? or, is it because bars and restaurants are closed so naturally carry out sales are up?
since march 16th, as the covid-19 crisis began to ramp up, i have indeed been drinking more than usual and earlier than usual — every night instead of just some; having wine dates with friends in other time zones on zoom and two or three glasses instead of one.
curious if other women’s habits were changing under our new social circumstances, i created a (unofficial) poll in my private online community on facebook and instagram. the results were surprising. of the 420 people who responded:
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- 40 per cent said their drinking habits had not changed
- 23 per cent do not drink alcohol
- 17 per cent are drinking more than usual
- 6 per cent are drinking less than usual
- 4 per cent say alcohol helps take the edge off of a stressful day
- 3 per cent said alcohol helps them get to sleep (but not stay asleep)
- 3 per cent are enjoying a drink with friends online as a way to end the day
- 3 per cent point to alcohol as a trigger for hot flashes
- 1 per cent say they are finding they want to drink more earlier than usual
the information around drinking is confusing. one minute researchers and doctors are advising us to cut out alcohol to protect brain and breast health, and the next day a new headline appears touting the heart and bone health benefits of having one drink per day.
as with all health decisions, my advice to women is always to get as informed as possible, and then choose the journey that is right for them.
here is what we know for sure. alcohol is a depressant. that means it can be a slippery slope if consumption is not managed. it can wreak havoc on our mood, hot flashes and relationships.
does alcohol cause hot flashes? no. hot flashes are caused by declining or lack of estrogen. but alcohol, as well as sugar and caffeine can trigger and exacerbate hot flashes and night sweats — in both women and men.
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while alcohol is often deemed a stress-releaser, it can have the opposite effect, too. it’s also high in sugar, dehydrating and robs your body of important nutrients as well as a good night’s sleep.
i’m thinking about the 17 per cent of women in my community who have noticed that their consumption has recently increased, and counting myself amongst that group. i’m also forgiving myself for wanting to blunt the initial shock and stress of a pandemic health crisis with a glass of wine. daily drinking and more-than-one-per-day are not good health habits for the long-term, and i will continue to monitor my own consumption with the question, “is this a problem?â€
please join me, and consider this permission to ask for help should your answer be yes.
shirley weir is the founder of menopause chicks, an online facebook community that advocates for women in perimenopause, menopause & beyond! she is also the author of mokita: how to navigate perimenopause with confidence & ease. download at mymokita.com
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