After a long day’s work, it is considered socially acceptable in some households to come home and have a drink. Parenting is incredibly challenging, but using alcohol to cope with the stresses of motherhood can lead to chemical dependence. Unfortunately, the practice of wine mom culture is becoming so widespread that many mothers are battling addiction as a result.
Some parents believe that in order to be a good parent, they need to sacrifice all of their own needs in order to obsess over those of their children. This type of attitude is understandable, and in some cases, appropriate for families living in war-torn or economically deprived countries. However, it can cause problems in families where children’s basic needs are already being met.
Except in cases of war and extreme poverty, it is unnecessary (and detrimental) for parents to forgo their own needs when raising children. The wine mom culture may be a reaction to the stresses of raising children in a modern world. For wine moms, drinking is a way to reclaim part of their life as their own.
Wine mom culture can require treatment from an alcohol addiction treatment program. If your alcohol use has gotten out of hand, contact Sunstone Recovery today at 855.833.9199 for alcohol addiction treatment.
Raising Kids Is Too Hard
Raising children is a profoundly difficult and life-altering task. The financial, medical, educational, and social challenges of raising children can be overwhelming, even to the most stable individuals and couples. Every solution to a problem brings a host of new problems. In addition, getting anything done with children around is challenging. Being around kids 24/7 with no breaks and with no outlets is stressful. Some people deal with that stress by drinking.
Wine mom culture often starts as a way to feel connected to others. Groups of people with similar work experiences often use alcohol as a way to acknowledge common struggles without the inconvenience and stress of addressing them. Most people would agree that having a drink after work won’t really affect your life one way or the other. But if you throw in the right mixture of guilt, resentment, feelings of powerlessness, and Instagram, bam: you’ve got a wine mom.
What Is a Wine Mom?
A wine mom uses alcohol consumption as a default coping mechanism for dealing with the stresses of being a stay-at-home mom. Some wine moms use their glass as a non-verbal signal to their children to leave them alone. Relying heavily on one coping mechanism slows the development of others, making people more dependent on their default. If your drinking impairs your ability to be the kind of parent you want to be, you might consider seeking treatment from a women’s rehab center.
While some Oregon parents occasionally drink around their children without a problem, it is easy to slide into substance abuse. Substance abuse causes extreme health risks and tears families apart. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. Families with substance abuse disorder are more at risk of the following family strife:
- Domestic violence
- Mental illness
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Social and emotional problems
- Poor school performance
- Discipline issues
- High stress
Alcohol and Addiction Treatment for Mothers
You may have a friend or loved one whose drinking affects their ability to be a good parent. If so, confronting that person can be a daunting task. If you believe that a mom you know is drinking too much, an Oregon alcohol treatment center might be their best chance for recovery.
Choosing between inpatient and outpatient alcohol treatment in Oregon will depend largely on the person’s resources and responsibilities. If your loved one is reluctant to try AA meetings and the 12-Step approach, our programs are an excellent introduction to sober living. We offer a range of therapy programs, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
Contact Sunstone Recovery today to find out more at 855.833.9199, or contact us online.
