Ivana Poku Have you found yourself or your friend drinking more during pandemic?
Do you wonder if it is ok or whether you should pay it special attention?
The answer to this is not as simple as it may seem and depends on many internal and external factors.
Truth is that being a mother is hard enough at the best of times so if a mother has to deal with every day challenges in isolation it is extremely difficult and creates a lot of added pressure.
It is not a secret that some mothers get through the challenging days thanks to ‘wine o’clock’ that comes once children are in bed. And in the pandemic, the chances of increased drinking are only higher as mothers are often dealing with most things at home, especially kids, homeschooling etc.. while themselves being in a sense ‘locked up’ in their homes.
As stated in Forbes, from a KFF poll at the end of March, 57% of mothers vs. 32% of fathers said their mental health has gotten worse because of the pandemic. Two weeks earlier, there had been just a 5% difference between the genders suggesting that mothers may be bearing a disproportionately large part of the burden as time goes on.’
Frankly, this shows how stressful this can be so it is also understandable that mothers reach out for any forms of ‘help’ that can release the pressure.
If they choose a glass of wine in the evening, it does not have to be a bad thing – as long as the drinking is not excessive, of course.
It also depends on the reason a mother drinks. If she has an occasional glass of wine in the evening to relax, that is in my opinion fine and nothing to be worried about.
However, if the only escape a mother has is a drink, that definitely raises red flags and she may need to look at other avenues to deal with the stress. This could be in the form of speaking with close friends who may offer some help and support. If not able to go that avenue, maybe speak to the GP.
I have witnessed a lot of discussions around this and seen a lot of judgmental comments towards mothers who drink on social media. I don’t think this is right as we never know what the situation is for individual mothers.
Some might have noticed an increase in drinking but still a relatively moderate amount which does not affect anyone in an adverse way.
However, if they come across judgemental comments, it can create feelings of guilt and add to already poor mental wellbeing.
While it is definitely good and right to voice our opinions, this is a very sensitive subject and people should choose their words very carefully.
Talking is always a great start to address any issues that someone may have not noticed. I feel we should motivate rather than create feelings of guilt.
Do you agree? Let me know in the comments!
