Am I overindulging with wine every night?

Question

I am a single mom of 3 children, and now that it is summer 2 of my children are away visiting their dad. I only have one child at home right now. With my feeling of freedom and lack of homework every night, I am indulging in a couple of glasses of wine about every night. I still cook for my son, spend time with him and find myself much more relaxed and less stressed and more easy going. I am afraid that I will develop a dependence. , but I am really enjoying and looking forward to my wind-down time in the evenings with a couple of glasses of wine. Keep in mind that normally, I drink only on a blue moon (figuratively). Should I cut back to weekends only to give myself a break? Should I be concerned? I feel guilty due to the fact that I preach to my children about moderation.

By the way,my ex husband is a functioning alcoholic with 3 DUIs and an incarceration and I realize that my children would not prosper by seeing me drink every night. I do not drink EVERY night, but do look forward to it. I will take a moment to sip the wine and read a book (I usually have no time for either). I do not intend on continuing the practice, but want to basically know how long it takes to develop a dependence for the average person. I think I need stress relievers more than alcohol, but it is a quick fix. My brother and my father have abused alcohol in the past, but I did not grow up witnessing alcoholism.

Answer 1

dont stress it

Answer 2

It really depends.

It's probably not a big deal if it has no impact on your daily activities (wake/sleep cycle, work, house maintenance, hygiene) or your social relationships (mainly between yourself and significant others). Many people are able to consume alcohol on a regular basis without developing a drinking problem. Also, for many cultures across the globe, regular drinking is the norm. As was previously mentioned, drinking certain liquors (red wine and beer included) has been deemed beneficial to certain bodily functions although this is only true of moderate drinking.

On the flip-side, drinking only a few glasses of wine on a nightly basis could be a sign of a drinking problem. You must ask yourself some serious questions: Does the act and anticipation of drinking negatively alter my daily activities and relationships? Is this anticipation one of the driving forces that gets me through each day? Can I skip the wine on any given night without experiencing a strong longing to drink? Do I feel frustration, anger, depression, or any other undesired emotional state before, during, or after I drink? Depending on your answers to these questions, you may have a problem and should seek professional help. Ask your doctor, go to a health clinic, or search the internet for an anonymous hotline in your area to talk with a trained counselor. After all, when it comes to your health, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 3

Is there a history of alcoholism in your family? Alcoholism is acquired but can also run in the family. If your fam has a history, chances are you can easily develop a dependence. Don't restrict your drinking to a particular day of the week because you would then be looking forward to that day; as the pressure mounts, you cold break and once you do, you lose. Just have a drink once in a while (once every few days) and don't set up a specific number like every 3 days. Start now before your other two kids come back and see you with a drink in your hand every day.

Answer 4

you say you drink "a couple of glasses of wine about every night". You didn't say how large the glasses, and some people say couple and mean 3 (not like most of us mean 2). So it sounds too much.

For health's sake a person should or could only drink about a whiskey glass full a day BUT with meals, and not at relaxing time.

If you want something that can relax you why not drink several glasses of ice cold camomile tea? Or cold grapejuice. Or cold pepsi. Or gingerale with fruit in it?
Maybe you are just pining for those days when you went out with friends on the weekends. Enjoy your family instead.

Answer 5

i am a recovering alcoholic addict, and they say in AA if you have you question your drinking you may have a problem, i dont know about you but there are many of us who start out with just one or two every night or once a week that turn into full blown alcoholics and once you hit that point it isnt fun any more you need it. it will take over your whole life and consume every ounce of energy you have i would suggest that maybe you take a look at it and figure out what is more important to you your life your children and your peace of mind or a couple wind down drinks EVERY NIGHT GOD BLESS YOU HONEY

Answer 6

A couple of glasses every night is OK. If you start finishing the bottle, maybe it's time to get worried. Wine is OK. If you upgrade to a six pack of beers and/or whiskey, get worried. Enjoy it now.

Answer 7

A glass of red wine per day has been proven to be healthy for the heart. Try to limit yourself to ONE per evening!

Answer 8

It is not a good habit. Lots of women do it if you need an excuse but, with your family i would stop now. That is the only answer and I think that you already know it.

Answer 9

Nothing wrong with it as long as you don't have to drive anywhere.I enjoy wine as well. I look forward to it, but have been drinking wine here and there for a few years...I am not dependent on it and can go weeks/months at a time without or some weeks I drink a glass or two every night. I can take it or leave it but do enjoy it. I think as long as Alcoholism isn't a problem in your family history it is fine. My father swears by red wine. He took my mother's advice after finding he had high cholesterol and drank red wine every evening with dinner and his cholesterol is back in a healthy range.

Here is an article on how moderate drinking is good for you: No worries. Enjoy that wine.


--http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070629/hl_hsn/moderatedrinkingmayboostyourhealth


Moderate Drinking May Boost Your Health
Fri Jun 29, 7:01 PM ET

FRIDAY, June 29 (HealthDay News) -- Cheers to your health: Moderate drinkers are more likely to report above average health, compared with lifetime abstainers, light drinkers and heavy drinkers, researchers say.

There is evidence that moderate drinking is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, injuries and mortality, but for a new study, published in the July/August issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, researchers wanted to find out how different levels of drinkers felt about their health.

"We wanted to see if moderate drinkers are actually feeling better by their own assessment," Michael French, a researcher at the University of Miami, said in a prepared statement.

This study looked at 2002 data from a survey of U.S. households representing more than 31,000 adults. The survey was conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey contained questions about alcohol consumption, health behaviors and chronic health conditions. Moderate drinking was defined as four to 14 drinks a week for men and four to seven drinks a week for women.

The male participants who reported moderate drinking were 1.27 times more likely to report above-average health, compared with those who were lifetime abstainers and former light drinkers. The moderate drinking women were more than twice as likely as abstainers to report above-average health.

"Our results suggest that a moderate amount of drinking is not necessarily dangerous for most people and may actually be health-promoting," said French.

Moderate drinking may benefit health by helping to ward off cardiovascular disease, particularly hardening of the arteries and stroke caused by blockages in blood vessels, according to Dr. Arthur Klatsky, a researcher and cardiology consultant at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Oakland, Calif.

But both French and Klatsky warned that heavy drinking contributes to poor health. "Heavy drinking by everybody's reckoning is bad business for health and social outcomes," Klatsky said in a prepared statement.

The American Heart Association has more about alcohol, wine and cardiovascular disease.

Answer 10

i would say to limit your drinking habit to at least three times a week. i drink about twice and sometimes three a week. it's not bad to drink a glass a day if you want, but try not drink more than that in a day.

Answer 11

if you have to ask...take a week off and see how you feel. if you notice any crankiness or cravings you need to reconsider how much you're drinking.

it doesn't sound like an overindulgence but everyones tolerance and disposition towards dependence is different. no one can tell you what's right for you. take a week off and see how your body and mind react.