The Problem with Mommy Wine Culture and it’s Memes:
By; Ariel Stern, LPC
Dear Fellow Moms (and followers and curious humans of all kinds),
Whether you subscribe to the ‘gram or not, you’ve probably seen memes along these lines:
You don’t have to be a mom, a teacher, or a nurse to stumble across the bombardment of wine culture on social media. Memes are everywhere. And while they can certainly be a source of hilarity and escapism, there are some insidious consequences of meme culture. Enter: “ The Mommy’s Juice Meme.”
Being a parent is hard. Being a nurse, a teacher, an Amazon delivery person, a blimp conductor (pilot?), or any human being during The Covid Times is hard, but what’s also hard is being confronted with a narrative that the solution to your exhaustion and frustration is, well, pinot noir. Sure, alcohol can certainly be a part of your weekly routine. If you are able to partake, social drinking, or even having a glass at the end of a stressful day can help you unwind. But bathing in Beaujolais isn’t the type of long-term self care solution you’re looking for.
Here comes the bad news: Alcohol is a depressant. Alcohol stops you from being able to develop and implement more sustainable coping skills. Alcohol counteracts the benefits of many antidepressant medications. Alcohol doesn’t really make things better; and actually it usually makes this worse; and last but not least, your kids are watching you (really).
A 2021 study by the Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that overall alcohol consumption has increased 60.1 % during the pandemic. The study also found that over 34% of study participants engaged in binge drinking episodes at least once per week over the last two years. The group with the fastest growing numbers were women.
What we really need are a new batch of memes that suggest healthier coping strategies.
So if you’re thinking that your drinking behaviors have changed, increased or are negatively impacting your life in some way, it probably is.
Here are some strategies to check in with yourself and your drinking habits:
Track your use for 30 days or longer. Tracking your use of alcohol increases accountability and is associated with significant decreases in use even over longer periods of time.
Try a dry month or other set period of time. Check in with yourself regularly about changes you see while going dry. Journal or keep a log of mood/sleep/appetite and energy levels. If cutting out alcohol is harder than you expected, it’s probably time to rethink your relationship with alcohol. (**If you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, shakiness or blurred vision, or you have been consuming large quantities of alcohol over extended periods of time; do not stop suddenly and seek a medical detox program.)
Talk to your friends and family about joining you for a dry (or dry-er) month.
Experiment with alcohol substitutes such as mocktail recipes or zero-proof beers.
Read and engage with positive social media outlets. There are tons of excellent books and podcasts out there filled with incredible content about sobriety, getting sober curious or how to change your relationship with alcohol. I am a particular fan of instagram handles: @thegaysober @asobergirlsguide @sobergirlsociety podcasts: “The Adult Child” “The Sober Girl’s Guide” and Books: “The Year of Less” By Cait Flanders “Her Best Kept Secret” By Gabrielle Glaser and “Nothing Good Can Come of This” By Kristi Coulter
Happy zero-proof consumption!
Love,
Ariel
Ariel Stern, LPC is a Ardmore therapist supporting couples, young parents, women experiencing postpartum depression, and people struggling with addiction and substance abuse as well as general anxiety, depression and trauma. Additionally, Ariel provides career counseling to those struggling with professional identity, job transition and/or new graduates starting their careers.
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