A mum-of-two, who would crack open a bottle of bubbly for every occasion, has warned against “social drinking”.
At the end of a long and tiresome week, Lindsay Henning would eagerly await her favourite ‘treat’ – a glass of wine or prosecco.
The mum, who shares, Emmett, four, and Lawson, two, with her husband, Adam, 35, would use alcohol as a form of relaxation, not realising that she was relying on the booze to boost her spirits.
The 34-year-old would also use any special occasions and events as an excuse to drink – easily consuming two bottles by herself in one sitting.
“I used to associate events or parties as something you absolutely had to drink for – I didn’t see a way around it,” Lindsay, a wellness advocate from Houston, Texas, told What’sTheJam.com.
“I needed a way to feel social and I truly used to believe you couldn’t have fun without booze.
“I was a ‘social binge drinker’ meaning if I was at home on a random Tuesday, I wasn’t pouring myself a glass of wine – but if I was out having fun on a Saturday, I could easily consume 10 drinks throughout the day.
“It would ruin weekends with my family.
“I just wanted to nurse my hangover and the next following was the same – I would be waiting for the next time I could get drunk and party.”
During a family holiday to Belize in December last year, the reality of Lindsay’s drinking habits hit home.
She said: “In my head, I couldn’t envision it [the trip] without piña coladas and day drinking.
“[On the first day], we drank our way through the airport in the morning and continued on the flight, and it wasn’t until we landed, and were going through customs that I started realising what a terrible decision I had made.
“I realised how tired and irritable booze made me.
“My husband and I got in many unnecessary tiffs, my irrational mood not helping to diffuse the situation.
“I even drank some coffee when we landed so I could wake back up and continue drinking for the day.”
Waking up hungover in bed the next day, Lindsay knew it was time for a change.
She said: “That next morning when I woke up hungover in paradise, I knew exactly what I truly wanted.
“I knew I was done with booze and it was done with me.”
As soon as she landed back in Texas, the mum quit the booze for good and is now sharing her story to help other people realise the dangers of “social drinking”.
Lindsay is about to celebrate her two-month anniversary as a non-drinker.
She said: “It hasn’t been too bad.
“I still crave a random glass of champagne to celebrate or drink with super close friends for a night when we’re all together.
“I’m still learning how to deprogram my brain to not associate celebration with alcohol.
“I know it will be a long road there but it’s a road I’m committed to because I feel so good.
“I’m more present with my kids, me and my husband don’t have random unnecessary fights all the time – most of them were always booze-induced.
“I believe that’s because I’m more in tune with my family’s needs and interests and I’m more present, especially on weekends.
“I never considered myself an alcoholic but absolutely a social binge drinker.”
“Now I just drink my booze-alternative tonics and wake up feeling just like myself!”
“This is my new normal and I couldn’t be happier.”
