Hello, my name is Amber and I’m an alcoholic. I’m also 33 years old, a mum, a wife and a corporate woman. I have a successful career, too. If you saw me in a crowd, you wouldn’t pick me as the alcoholic.
But a few months ago I realised it had become normal for me to reach for a glass of wine as temporary relief from pressure, stress and frustration.
I wasn’t drinking as soon as I woke up, nor was I drinking at work. I also never drank and drove. I did, however, find myself having a drink every day and thinking about how much I was looking forward to one from about 3pm (at the latest). I found myself being tagged in memes about 'mummy drinks' regularly, as well as receiving texts the morning after I’d been out asking, "How’s the head today?"
Side note... Fiona O'Loughlin talks about the impact of alcoholism. Post continues below.
I realised that my habit of enjoying a drink had become an addiction. I was becoming a little sneaky – filling up my wine glass when my husband was out of the kitchen and making sure I always had wine in the house. I knew it was a problem. Sometimes my friends would say, "I’m looking forward to a drink, it’s been a few weeks since my last wine," and I would wonder, how on earth did you manage to go a few weeks without drinking?!
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