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Hiding Alcoholism: When Moms Hit Rock Bottom
– Reported, January 26, 2012
Id become a functioning alcoholic, Heather Fanning, a recovering alcoholic at Journey Healing Centers told Ivanhoe.
Fanning feels lucky. She knows her drinking could have killed her or someone else.
“Around my house there would be stashes and Id drink when people weren’t watching,” Fanning added.
At her worst, the working mom was drinking three shots of vodka, ten beers and two glasses of wine every day. According to a federal study, six out of 10 women between 18 and 44 drink alcohol. Female alcoholics have death rates 50 to 100 percent higher than male alcoholics and the number of women arrested for DUI is up almost 30 percent. Psychologist Barbara Kelly says families need to look more closely for signs of a functioning alcoholic.
“They hide the alcohol in places that they know people wouldn’t typically look or it sometimes is even in the nursery where their baby sleeps, Barbara Kelly, Ph.D., a Licensed psychologist told Ivanhoe.
Stay-at-home mom Michelle McClennen kept an immaculate home took care of her two kids and still managed to juggle daily drinking. Moms night out became her excuse.
Jewelry making parties to Tupperware parties there was also Bunko, that’s a dice rolling game that’s actually called drunko because you definitely drink a lot, McClennen said.
McClennen worked with a counselor to kick her habit. Heather found help through an in-patient addiction center. Both say admitting they needed help was the toughest part.
These moms are sharing their shame, and hoping to reverse the trend of women turning to alcohol.
While the number of women arrested for DUI increased 30 percent in the past decade, men still outnumber them four to one.
For More Information, Contact:
Alcohol Addiction & Substance Abuse
www.alcoholaddiction.org