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| Why women drink: live chat with Gabrielle Glaser | Why women drink: live chat with Gabrielle Glaser |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| When Gabrielle Glaser was living in Portland Oregon, she noticed that every Sunday night her neighbor would put her wine bottles into Glaser's recycling bin. "Every Sunday night, for six years," says Glaser. | When Gabrielle Glaser was living in Portland Oregon, she noticed that every Sunday night her neighbor would put her wine bottles into Glaser's recycling bin. "Every Sunday night, for six years," says Glaser. |
| I wondered why she was hiding. She was a working woman, she drove a nice car, lived in a nice house. Why was she ashamed and why did she think she was drinking too much? | I wondered why she was hiding. She was a working woman, she drove a nice car, lived in a nice house. Why was she ashamed and why did she think she was drinking too much? |
| This routine, coupled with a brief period when Glaser worried that she herself was becoming too dependent on alcohol, led her to investigate the under-researched subject of female drinking in America. | This routine, coupled with a brief period when Glaser worried that she herself was becoming too dependent on alcohol, led her to investigate the under-researched subject of female drinking in America. |
| She found that today women are drinking more – in every sense of the word. Women of all ages from grandmas to college girls drink more frequently and in larger amounts. More women are entering rehab, are charged with DUI's and are treated in emergency rooms for being dangerously intoxicated. | She found that today women are drinking more – in every sense of the word. Women of all ages from grandmas to college girls drink more frequently and in larger amounts. More women are entering rehab, are charged with DUI's and are treated in emergency rooms for being dangerously intoxicated. |
| Glaser has just published her findings in the book Her Best Kept Secret: Why Women Drink and How They Can Regain Control. | Glaser has just published her findings in the book Her Best Kept Secret: Why Women Drink and How They Can Regain Control. |
| For the most part her book describes women who fit her own profile – second generation middle class, middle-aged married women. But Glaser talked to women of all ages from a variety of backgrounds and found some common triggers. Many women drink as a form of self-medication to ease depression or anxiety. "Experts say alcohol works until it doesn't," comments Glaser. | For the most part her book describes women who fit her own profile – second generation middle class, middle-aged married women. But Glaser talked to women of all ages from a variety of backgrounds and found some common triggers. Many women drink as a form of self-medication to ease depression or anxiety. "Experts say alcohol works until it doesn't," comments Glaser. |
| They also say that some sort of role loss triggers depression and drinking: losing a spouse, divorcing, being an empty nester, losing your parents, job loss or hating your job. | They also say that some sort of role loss triggers depression and drinking: losing a spouse, divorcing, being an empty nester, losing your parents, job loss or hating your job. |
| At the other end of the seesaw, women drink when they are juggling too many jobs, as they try to ease the anxiety that comes from being overextended. | At the other end of the seesaw, women drink when they are juggling too many jobs, as they try to ease the anxiety that comes from being overextended. |
| Are you one of these women? Does your drinking worry you or cause you shame? Do you find you would like a glass or two of something in the evening, but you're often unable to stop yourself from getting the third or fourth? Do you drink every night and wish that you didn't? Has alcohol ever caused you to embarrass yourself? | Are you one of these women? Does your drinking worry you or cause you shame? Do you find you would like a glass or two of something in the evening, but you're often unable to stop yourself from getting the third or fourth? Do you drink every night and wish that you didn't? Has alcohol ever caused you to embarrass yourself? |
| If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then join Gabrielle Glaser today at 12pm ET | 5pm BST for a live discussion about women and drinking. Toss your questions, thoughts or musings below and Glaser will respond to them this afternoon. | |
| Meanwhile, here are some tips Glaser put together for us to consider: | Meanwhile, here are some tips Glaser put together for us to consider: |
| • Don't drink alone. Resist the temptation to open the bottle by yourself. Wait. | • Don't drink alone. Resist the temptation to open the bottle by yourself. Wait. |
| • Compare it to other cravings – it can pass. Get out of the house. Take the dog for a walk; join something during those witching hours. Go to a yoga class. | • Compare it to other cravings – it can pass. Get out of the house. Take the dog for a walk; join something during those witching hours. Go to a yoga class. |
| • Do something at the time of day when you would normally start drinking. | • Do something at the time of day when you would normally start drinking. |
| • If your kitchen is the trigger when you're making dinner for the kids, try and change the schedule. Get the kids more involved. | • If your kitchen is the trigger when you're making dinner for the kids, try and change the schedule. Get the kids more involved. |
| • Try meditating to help change your mood. Glaser recommends this website as being helpful. | • Try meditating to help change your mood. Glaser recommends this website as being helpful. |
| • Who buys the wine? You? Don't buy it. If you don't buy it you won't drink it. | • Who buys the wine? You? Don't buy it. If you don't buy it you won't drink it. |
| • Put it some place really high. Glaser was afraid she would get drunk and fall getting it. | • Put it some place really high. Glaser was afraid she would get drunk and fall getting it. |
| • Arrange to have to drive somewhere in the evening. | • Arrange to have to drive somewhere in the evening. |
| • Tell yourself that there are two nights a week when you don't drink. | • Tell yourself that there are two nights a week when you don't drink. |
| • Think of it like ice cream – something you have as a treat. | • Think of it like ice cream – something you have as a treat. |
| • When you are going out drinking cut yourself off at two. Don't get to three because that's when the bad things happen. | • When you are going out drinking cut yourself off at two. Don't get to three because that's when the bad things happen. |
| • HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. Drink a lot of water during the day so that your blood alcohol level doesn't spike immediately with your first drink. That will disinhibit you and make you want another one immediately, | • HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE. Drink a lot of water during the day so that your blood alcohol level doesn't spike immediately with your first drink. That will disinhibit you and make you want another one immediately, |
| • Own your behavior – it is what it is. If you feel you have a problem find a doctor who can help you. | • Own your behavior – it is what it is. If you feel you have a problem find a doctor who can help you. |