Mum of 2 shares "How I finally broke free from my nightly wine habit"

"Hi, my name is Samantha, I am a working mum of 2 kids and I've been part of the Zing Wellbeing community for a while now.

Like many women, I joined because I wanted to improve my health, lose a little weight, have more energy and feel like myself again.

What I didn't expect was that one of the biggest health changes I'd make had nothing to do with food.

It was alcohol.

I wanted to share my story because if even one woman reads this and realises she's not alone, then it will have been worth it.

It started with "just a couple of glasses"

For years, I was a busy working mum juggling work, family, school commitments and everything else life throws at us.

A couple of glasses of wine after work became my way to unwind.

At first, it was only on weekends.

Then it became a few nights a week.

Before I knew it, it was every single night.

It wasn't bottles of spirits. It wasn't getting drunk. It was simply two glasses of wine every evening.

The problem was that I couldn't stop.

I would wake up every morning telling myself, "Tonight I'm not drinking."

By 5pm, all I could think about was that first glass.

I'd promise myself I'd only have one.

It was almost always two.

Sometimes three.

I didn't realise how much of my evening revolved around alcohol until I actually tried to stop.

"I don't have a drinking problem..."

This is the part I think many women don't talk about.

I didn't fit the stereotype of someone with alcohol dependence.

I had a career.

I looked after my family.

I exercised.

I functioned perfectly well.

But every evening, I felt pulled towards wine.

If you've ever thought:

• "I only drink wine."
• "It's only a couple of glasses."
• "I can stop whenever I want."

...but then found you couldn't actually stop, you're certainly not alone.

Alcohol dependence doesn't always look dramatic.

Sometimes it's simply feeling like you no longer have a choice

I finally spoke to my doctor

After trying countless times to stop on my own, I saw someone post in the Zing Wellbeing community about alcohol dependance and I recognised myself in her post. And I knew I had to do something as I couldn't stop on my own.

So right then and there, I booked an appointment with my GP.

We talked honestly about what was happening.

I explained that I wasn't drinking huge amounts, but I simply couldn't stop thinking about that nightly wine.

My doctor suggested trying a medication called naltrexone.

I'd never heard of it before.

What is naltrexone?

Naltrexone is a prescription medication that has been used for many years to help people reduce alcohol cravings and heavy drinking.

Rather than making you sick if you drink alcohol, it works by reducing alcohol's rewarding effects in the brain.

For many people, that means the desire to drink becomes much quieter.

It's not suitable for everyone, which is why it's important to discuss it with your own doctor.

My experience

I honestly wasn't expecting much.

But within a few days something remarkable happened.

For the first time in years...

I didn't want wine.

There wasn't a battle going on in my head.

I wasn't using willpower.

I simply wasn't interested.

I still cooked dinner.

I still finished work.

I still did all the things that would normally trigger that first glass.

Except the craving just wasn't there.

It felt incredibly freeing and I was so so grateful that I had made the call to the doctor.

And 2 months in alcohol no longer occupies my mind and I no longer crave it.

I took naltraxone every day for around 4 weeks then stopped taking it to see if my wine cravings had gone and I was DELIGHTED to see they were. 

I then had a night out with my girlfriends and I was pretty worried as I wanted to have a glass of wine and not freak out - and I did and it didn't make me go nuts and want more.

It was like I had broken the alcohol addiction and I was back in control.

Now I have a glass of wine every now and again if I am out with friends of out for dinner but I am VERY aware that I keep a check on it and that if it got me once it could get me again and I never want to get to a stage where I am drinking every night like I used to.

The side effects

Like any medication, naltrexone can have side effects.

For me, I experienced tiredness and increased thirst during the first few days.

That was something I discussed with my doctor and they said this was normal and that it would pass after a week and it did.

Everyone responds differently, which is why it's important to be monitored by your healthcare professional if you start any new medication.

Why I'm sharing this

I'm not sharing my story because I think everyone who enjoys wine needs medication.

Far from it.

I'm sharing it for the women who quietly wonder whether their relationship with alcohol has changed.

The women who say every morning:

"Tonight I won't drink."

...and then find themselves pouring that same glass again and just cannot stop - this was me for YEARS.

If that's you, please don't beat yourself up.

Talk to your doctor.

There are evidence-based treatments available that many people simply don't know exist."

Thank you to Samantha for sharing her story.

Why does alcohol dependance happen?

Alcohol changes the brain's reward pathways over time.

Something that starts as an occasional treat can slowly become something your brain begins to expect every evening.

That doesn't happen because you're weak or because you lack willpower.

It's because alcohol affects the brain's reward system, making those evening habits feel increasingly automatic.

The more often we repeat that pattern, the stronger it becomes.

Alcohol and menopause

For many women, midlife and menopause make things even more complicated.

Between work pressures, caring for ageing parents, raising teenagers, poor sleep and fluctuating hormones, it's easy to understand why many women reach for a glass of wine to relax.

Research has found that women experiencing perimenopause often report drinking as a way of coping with menopause symptoms, stress and low mood.

Ironically, alcohol can actually make many menopause symptoms worse.

It may contribute to poorer sleep, increased anxiety, more hot flushes for some women and make it harder to manage weight and energy levels.

Some Australian statistics worth knowing

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost one in five Australian adults consumed more than 10 standard drinks in the previous week, with alcohol consumption highest among adults aged 55 to 64 years.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare also reports that higher-risk alcohol consumption is more common in middle-aged and older women than many people realise.

If you think you might be drinking too much

If you've tried to cut back but keep finding yourself returning to the same habit, don't suffer in silence.

Speak with your GP.

Be honest.

You might be surprised by how common your experience actually is.

Sometimes the hardest step is asking for help.

Important: This article shares one woman's personal experience and is not medical advice. Naltrexone is a prescription medication and isn't suitable for everyone. Always speak with your doctor before starting, stopping or changing any medication.