• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nina Anders

Living an Ageless Life With Style

  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • EBook
  • Shop My Favorites
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
    • Inspiration
    • Morning Musings
    • My Almost Empty Nest

Ever Wonder If Alcohol is Bad for You? Part 1

11/14/2018 · In: Lifestyle

Glass of alcohol with text "are you drinking too much"

After a great deal of soul searching, I decided to post this four part Wellness Wednesday series on why, how and what happened when I quit drinking alcohol four years ago. Neither Roger, nor my daughter Brooke are completely comfortable with my decision to share this, but I feel drawn to. It is my hope that if you feel uncomfortable with how much alcohol you drink, you will know you are not alone-I’ve been there. And if you are concerned about what stopping might be like, I can at least share what stopping was like for me and how I did it. If you wonder how your life might change after you stop, I am sharing the ups and downs I encountered after I quit.

I made the decision to stop drinking, but that may not be the right decision for you, or you may want to, but it may not be the right time. Whether you drink or not, this is a no judgement zone. And, no hard feelings if you want to skip this series we will start something new in December. Monday Musings and Fashion Fridays will continue as usual.

There was a time when I was a “casual” drinker. I occasionally enjoyed drinks with friends after work, or at a party. I could take alcohol or leave it and I could count the number of times I had been drunk over 20 years on one hand.

Things changed when I hit my early forties. I was a new mom, and I was “on” 24/7 as I cared for my family, our home, ran a growing business and volunteered in our community.

A nice glass of wine in the evening was the epitome of luxury for me. It was the one “self care” thing I did during that time. I invested in beautiful stemware, and learned about wine, fruit and cheese pairings. In the late afternoon, as I waited for my husband to come home for dinner, I’d enjoy a nice glass of red. It all seemed quite gentile.

I loved the feeling of relaxation that rippled through my body as I sipped on the first glass of the evening.  Friday and Saturday nights when my husband was out with his friends turned into “special” nights for me: I’d get an extra nice bottle of wine to salve my loneliness and the disappointment that we weren’t spending time together.

Wine soothed me, it smoothed out life’s rough edges, and helped me relax. It was easier to overlook my husband’s absences and our growing disconnection after a half a glass or so. It was easier to cope with the stresses from my work and the fact that I had no one to talk those things through with. It gave me a slight respite from all my responsiblities.  My anxiety seemed to lessen, and I could relax enough to asleep, after one nice glass.

Only, I began to want more…Almost as soon as I poured my first glass, and watched the legs form along its sides, as the scent wafted to my nostrils and the first sip danced on my tongue, I knew I wanted a second glass. Over time, one bottle a week morphed to two, then, somewhere along the line, I started buying wine in those boxes.  There came a point when I couldn’t imagine an evening without wine.

Every once in a while, I’d worry about my drinking. I took online quizzes to see if I was becoming an alcoholic. They always seemed just ambiguous enough for me to think I was ok. At the gynecologist’s office, they would always ask how many glasses of wine their patients were drinking, and remind us in writing that one glass was optimal, more could cause hormonal imbalances and lead to several forms of cancer. I preferred to take note of how good wine is for one’s heart. My doctor and I would always end up swapping notes on our favorite wines. Most women I knew drank, including my doctor. I’d come away from my physicals feeling a bit guilty; yet slightly vindicated.

The reality was…..I began to feel afraid that I couldn’t cope with my life without alcohol.

Next Wednesday: The Dawn of Truth.

By: Nina · In: Lifestyle · Tagged: Alcoholism, life over 50, wellness

About Nina

Sharing A Journey is an award winning blog for women "of a certain age" who love life and style with a little inspiration mixed in. The blog and it's author Nina Anders has been featured in notable publications including Forbes, Next Avenue, Thrive Global and Parade. Photos by RSEsteyphotography Let's do midlife together!

you’ll also love

Nina Anders over 50 infelucener waring cream sweater and white pantsHow to Create Your Own Personal Style: A Guide for Women
Tidy closetCloset Refresh: Your Guide to a Stylish Wardrobe Reset
GloTech red-light kitHow to Get the Most from Your Red Light Glotech Collar

Join the List

Stay up to date & receive the latest posts in your inbox.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelbee on the Edge says

    11/14/2018 at 7:10 AM

    Nina, thank you for sharing this. I am sure this series will be difficult to write but it will help so many who may be experiencing the same “need” for alcohol to cope with daily life. I had friends once, a married couple, whose marriage was so completely dysfunctional that neither of them could even stand to be in the other’s presence unless they were drunk. She would start drinking about an hour before he arrived home from work so that she had a decent buzz by the time he walked in the door. He poured a drink for himself before he even took his coat off. By the time they put the kids to bed at night, they both made sure they were sufficiently intoxicated to be alone together without the buffer of the children. It was actually quite sad to watch as their friends. And eventually their energy and the toxicity of their relationship poured into our friendship to the point that the friendship had to end. I am certain that they still carry on this way…but your story just made me think of them. While wine certainly has benefits, when it is used as a way to avoid the things you don’t want to face, it is not such a great thing.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    Reply
  2. Candi Randolph says

    11/16/2018 at 7:01 AM

    [* Shield plugin marked this comment as “trash”. Reason: Failed GASP Bot Filter Test (checkbox) *]
    Thank you for sharing your experience, Nina. It is a very personal thing and I’m sure not easy to write, but I know it will be helpful to many others. I will be back to read the rest of the posts. #thursdaymoda

    Reply
    • Nina says

      11/25/2018 at 12:28 PM

      Thank you Candi!

      Reply
  3. Amy Kennedy says

    11/21/2018 at 12:25 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing this. It is an issue with many people I love dearly, and that gray area of a transition to a dependence on it can be such a slippery slope, especially when life is handing you more burdens than you ever saw coming. It is really a difficult road to travel back from, and I thank you so much for posting this.

    Reply
    • Nina says

      11/25/2018 at 11:55 AM

      Thank you Amy, so happy you stopped by. Prayers to your friends and loved ones struggling. Thank you for your support of this topic. I was very torn in brining it up, yet I feel it is really important especially since many of us are in need of good primary care to address hormonal issues that we often find ourselves having to self medicate. Happy Holidays, hope we can find time to catch up soon.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Next Post >

How To Clear Out Negative Energy

Primary Sidebar

Meet Nina Anders

Meet Nina Anders
hello!

Welcome to Sharing a Journey! If you love modern classic fashion, videos about beauty and skin care with a little inspiration and lifestyle mixed in, you are in the right place! Grab a cup of coffee, and take a look around.

Read More

Connect

Categories

  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Inspiration
  • Lifestyle

Purchase A Copy of Graceful Transitions Here

Advertise

SiteGround Ad

Disclaimer

This site uses affiliated links in some of it’s posts.  Posts with affiliated links will be noted.  Sharing A Journey also receives gifted items provided for review.  When we have received an item for review it will be noted in the post.  As always, our opinions are our own.    Please stop by my About Page to read more about our policies such as copyright, disclaimers, and collaborations. Please Click Here for Our Privacy Policy

Buy Me A Coffee?

https://buymeacoffee.com/ninaanderssharingajourney

Follow Along

@sharing_a_journey

Nina Anders | Sharing a Journey

sharing_a_journey

Life and Style Blog | YouTube Channel

2025 is my year for a Glo Up starting with my skin 2025 is my year for a Glo Up starting with my skin care routine. I just started using the ZIIP Halo on my 65 year old skin.  Cant wait to see the results. #livingmybestlife #over60andfabulous #over50model #over65skincare @ziipbeauty
This week’s mini adventures had us in one of my This week’s mini adventures had us in one of my favorite spots-Dunedin Florida. We went for coffee and croissants at @dunedincoffeecompany where they have amazing coffee and a real in house bakery. Every so often the baker comes through with delicious creations right from the ovens. We went for some design inspiration @lrhome their shop never disappoints then on to the book shop. That made us hungry so we had to go to  @casatinas. How could you not?#livingmybestlife #over60andfabulous #over50womenoninstagram #over50style #outfitoftheday #over50model
I've been making a point to spend a lot less time I've been making a point to spend a lot less time on screens this year. It's been amazing how much free time I have to enjoy new hobbies and spending time with friends and family. I even tried my hand at painting with a Time For Art kit and actually made this sweet dolphin painting. I was surprised how easy it was even for someone like me who has very little painting experience. I loved how the kits came with everything I needed to make the painting, and I when I needed help, I watched a video on the Time for Art website. I thought it would be fun to host some friends for a girls painting night, invitations are in the mail--plus it would make a perfect gift. Be sure to check out @timeforartlive--I will link all their info in my link tree.
For the next 65 Days I am challenging myself to ch For the next 65 Days I am challenging myself to change a few bad habits and prioritize health, friendships and activities that enhance happiness and creativity.  I am looking forward to going into 65 and beyond healthier and happier than ever before. I hope you’ll join me over the next 65 days by choosing something you’d like to improve or a habit you’d like to break and see where it leads. #over50womenoninstagram #over60andfabulous #livingmybestlife
Instagram post 18020842631137506 Instagram post 18020842631137506
Instagram post 17901405167968170 Instagram post 17901405167968170
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

On the Blog

  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Inspiration
  • Lifestyle

Info

  • About Nina Anders
  • EBook
  • Shop
  • Work with Me

stay in the know

Copyright © 2025 · Theme by 17th Avenue

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT