Comments on: Women, Hormones, Menopause, and Alcohol Abuse

By: sharifah

sharifah — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:55:38 +0000

Ladies: this is whats up: RAW FOOD DIET (and i mean try to go as close to 100% raw as you can) WATER, WATER, WATER, EXERCISE, SLEEP. your menopause symptom will disappear.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 19:40:39 +0000

This is pretty exciting news for me! Thank you all for writing! I’m 52 now and have been drinking daily for at least 4 years. Previous to that, not more than a few times a year. It’s interesting that this could have something to do with my hormones. It’s very weird to have my mind hijacked from my values at this time in my life, like a bad joke. A very bad joke. Now I have a thread to follow. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:02:45 +0000

Just had to comment on a previous comment – Lance Chambers, I’m assuming you’re a man. Must be nice to know you’ll never have to go through the ‘natural process’ of menopause.:-) I thought much the same way as you before I actually experienced it. When, for instance, I’d hear older women gripe about hot flashes, I’d think to myself ‘What a bunch of drama queens! So you get warm for a minute – how awful could that really be?’. Well, I can tell you now first-hand – it’s much more miserable than I would ever have imagined. I’m thankful for the experience, though, because it reminded me how important it is to refrain from judging others, and especially to refrain from preaching to them, if I have not had the experience of walking in their shoes.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:42:36 +0000

Interesting article. I found it while looking for something else – a reason why I lost interest in alcohol after beginning hormone replacement. For 20-25 years, my husband and I would regularly split a bottle of red wine in the evenings. After I began hormone replacement (estradiol and medroxyprogesterone) at the age of 51, I noticed that my glass of wine went pretty much untouched and I’d end up pouring it out at the end of the night. Where before, I had a strong craving for my half-bottle of wine every evening, I would now forget to drink it or even have a slight aversion at the thought of drinking it. This phenomenon coincided exactly with the day I started taking hormones. Just thought it was odd. Good, but odd.

By: cathyj

cathyj — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:58:30 +0000

my daughter found this site for me and i have found it quite enlightening. looking back i see that i started menopause at around 38 i am not sure when exactly my drinking started to become a problem but it did for a number of years i did eventually kick it but now that i am 52 and having major problems again have started back again. i wasn’t aware that the two were related i just thought i was going mad. any ideas to help me through and stop again would be much appreciated. i have made an appointment with a doctor that i am hopeful will give me some guidence as the past 4 doctors i have seen have been useless one even laughed at me.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:24:28 +0000

Wow, I finally found some people who have been having the same problems as me. I’ve struggled with alcohol for years to the point where it became a daily routine. I would find myself going to the liquor store even though I didn’t want to. My hot flashes and night sweats and depression are all driving me nuts. I’m trying to stay away from alcohol and it really is hard, but I have become more and more concerned about my health. There has to be some help somewhere.

By: Lance Chambers

Lance Chambers — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:24:52 +0000

Modification of lifestyle issues like a healthy diet, light exercise to improve blood circulation level can help regulate the changes in their body and an active and healthy lifestyle is the key to biological and physiological health which is why there are women who never even had symptoms. I guess women should stop worrying about perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms because the more they worry the worst it gets. Take it easy because it’s a natural process every woman should go through and understanding the symptoms will definitely help them cope and adapt to it.

By: soldy

soldy — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:14:24 +0000

The menopause-alcohol connection is interesting.

Mary Ellen, you said “At this point, we are the only alcohol program that even considers what is in reality a pervasive factor.But then, all other programs are based on male models.” Do you think the link hasn’t been researched by many because it relates to women alone?

Marie, I want to wish you all the best. Congratulations on doing so well with quitting.

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:14:11 +0000

I was fascinated to read your blog. I am 51 and have struggled with increasing alcohol consumption for several years. It escalated this past year until I felt I could no longer control the drinking (I was drinking daily, anywhere from 3-4 drinks per day). I attended AA and a little over two months ago quit drinking entirely.

Since then I have noticed the following: an immediate cessation of daily night sweats, no more hot flashes, a return of my libido to what had been my ‘normal’ level, and I have resumed my periods which had ceased about 18 months ago.

Nowhere had I heard of the connection between menopause and alcohol, but I can assure you, there is one! I did a Google search, wondering if there was any information and found your blog as well as some other articles of note.

I am a professional in a position of responsibility and also a wife and mother. Though I clearly had a serious drinking problem, my work or family relationships did not suffer (I suspect my health did!). I have a very hard time relating to the AA group and I think I may become an AA dropout! I remain convinced I should not drink and am committed to that. It actually hasn’t been that difficult, and now that I feel so much better, it is more than worth giving up the pleasure of alcohol!

I encourage you in your work and only wish you were located near me! Thanks for your blog.

By: Jennifer Sylvester

Jennifer Sylvester — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:08:40 +0000

Hi there Mary Ellen and Ed,

What a delight to find your published article on the web as I continue my ongoing research into all that is peri-menopausal. I had all the testing by Dr. O and was hopeful to hear that I’m hormonally “balanced” with the exception of escalated Cortisol levels. Medication prescribed made me absolutely sick to my stomach, so I discontinued. The depression symptoms continue to effect my work and my relationships…more isolation than ever before. Tired all the time. No interest in my once active lifestyle. Alcohol consumption neither increasing nor decreasing. The amazing thing is that noone seems to notice these huge changes but ME…and it makes me feel even more disconnected, as if I’m just going through the motions of life, but without any interest in the process. Time for some follow up visits with you both!

By: Mary Ellen and Ed

Mary Ellen and Ed — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:15:14 +0000

Actually, what you are describing are the “presenting problems” of most of our women clients, and they are generally interrelated in complicated and frustrating ways. Additionally, there are usually other issues that are also simmering in the mix and these too need to be addressed.

Obviously I can’t reduce what we do over five days and 15-20 hours of individual focused attention into a few paragraphs, but the basis is to subtract as many variables as possible (for example, alcohol is a far better depressent that Zoloft is an anti-depressent so the Zoloft isn’t going to help much, if at all). Hormone levels can also be determined (and again, alcohol abuse tends to hasten the on-set of menoupause by five years in many women) and the various possibilities weighed (HRT has its risks, but so does not using HRT).

These are the sorts of starting points we look at – establish base lines, track and record just about everything. alter one or two variables and see what happens, and so on, over a three to six month period. In reality, you need to become your own best and most interesting research project.

Solutions tend to be complex at first, but they settle into routines fairly quickly and are a lot easier to live with than the constant roller coaster of alcohol, emotions, physical symptoms, etc.

One thing is certain, simplistic “solutions” like “working your program” aren’t going to fix anything.

As always, feel free to contact us about your specific situation.

By: Marlene

Marlene — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:02:25 +0000

I have been using alcohol in the evenings to try and forget/avoid my issues (been doing this for 2 years or so) – just found out at age 43 my FSH level is 69.2 – doctor says I am in menoupause. What is causing what? I had been on Zoloft for 5 years, but felt it was not really working the past 1-2 years. I have worked out at the gym since age 18, but since turning 40 it does not seem to matter. I have gained 20 pounds in the last 2 years – even with exercise. Sex drive has been poor and it use to be wonderful. I thought it was because of body image issues. I just do not know where to go from here. Any advice?

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:16:09 +0000

Unhappily there isn’t much research that we’ve been able to find. What we have found is that it’s an issue for the majority of our women clients. At this point, we are the only alcohol program that even considers what is in reality a pervasive factor. But then, all other programs are based on male models.

We do have experience with an excellent, world class, endocrinologist who works with our clients. I’d be glad to discuss our work with him if you’d care to call. 888-541-6350

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:38:47 +0000

Dr. Barnes,

I enjoyed your article titled “Women, Hormones, Menopause, and Alcohol Abuse.
I am and have been experiencing the wonders of perimenoupause for about nine years now. I am 49 years of age currently. About 7 years ago I unwittingly started increasing my alcohol use to medicate the side effects of perimenoupause such as depression, insomnia, confusion, forgetfulness, the inability to focus, extreme anxiety, random uncontrollable tears, and irritability on the scale that begs whether anything short of an exorcism would be appropriate. My alcohol intake escalated from social drinking to professional binge drinking in about a year’s time.

During this past year (2008), I completed an aversion therapy treatment program and I have been sober for 8 months now. I am grateful to not be experiencing the side effects of alcohol abuse in addition to the side effects of perimenopause, but I am still suffering all of the symptoms referenced above. I worry that the side effects of perimenopause pose a risk to my sobriety. Lately, I have had the desire to drink, so I can “escape” the insanity I feel inside. I know that the alcohol is not the answer and have been able to resist the urge thus far. I have to say that I was a little surprised to discover how upset and anxious I feel at times now that alcohol is out of the equation.

I live in Houston, TX and I am currently searching for a MD that specializes in women’s hormonal issues. To no avail, my family practice doctor has addressed this situation with blood tests that indicate that my hormonal levels are within the normal range and prescribing antidepressants. On the flip side, I know that HRT is controversial because of potential health risks and there are many experts that advise against the use of hormone replacements.

There are two things I do know:

1.I DON’T AND HAVE NOT FELT NORMAL IN YEARS AND IT IS GETTING WORSE!!!!!! Therapy will not balance my hormone levels and admitting that I am powerless over the amount of estrogen or the lack there of in body is not going to help.
2.It is not a fair ask of women to spend years up to say 15 years feeling and acting like a lunatic not withstanding the hot flashes, etc.

Do you have more published research about the links of perimenopause/menopause and the increased use of alcohol? I would be most interested in reading it. I need a healthy answer to the symptoms I have been experiencing and want to do anything I can to do assist other women in not falling into the alcohol trap I did because of my lack of education on the effects of perimenopause.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:34:34 +0000

It’s sad to think we have to rely on alcohol to get us by. I agree that most alcohol assumption is due to some kind of problem, whether is conscious or unconscious. I am 38 and about to hit peri-menopause. I am already seeing signs of peri-menopause in myself. I would hate to think that menopause will tempt me to drink more.

By: Mary Ellen & Ed

Mary Ellen & Ed — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:32:25 +0000

Our clients, two-thirds of whom are women, are mostly smart, competent, otherwise successful people who’ve gotten sidetracked by their alcohol abuse. The primary contributing factors are usually boredom and lonliness with “events” – perimenopause, job loss, death, retirement, and end to child rearing – being triggering events. Hormonal shifts obviously wear more heavily on women, though men have their less obvious factors here, as job loss does on men, but the real problems are surprisingly equal and far more “developmentally” related than gender based. Many of our clients are “too old” emotionally and psychologically for their chronologic age and isolation is the real problem.

And, yes, people who are isolated tend towards alcohol abuse for the temporary relief it provides, along with relief from anxiety and other
dis-eases (not diseases) that it brings. Part of the solution is always correctly defining the problem and not limping people into an “alcoholic” catagory which merely reinforces the alcohol abuse and subsequent helplessness model that does plague women more than men..

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:24:12 +0000

It seems that it would be much easier for women to pick up on addictive behaviors. It is almost as if we are the sex who is always looking to someone or something else for comfort and that for some of us this may just be what happens to give us comfort at a certain stage in our lives. I do not mean this in a sexist manner at all but there would be some who would suggest that many women are just more prone to picking up this habit due to things that are just out of our control.

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:55:41 +0000

We agree with you – and we’re not suggesting excusing, simply saying that this is a stage when alcohol abuse tends to occur, just as it does with retirement, divorce, loss of a spouse, and so on. It’s also a time to be very careful about doing your own research since doctors know as little about hormone issues as they do about alcohol abuse, and most of what they think they know is usually wrong.

By: Iris

Iris — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:40:51 +0000

But I am sure that there are people out there who are using this as an easy excuse to drink too much and wreck havoc in their lives. This is not the right choice either. The fact of the matter is that if you are feeling these urges you must meet with your doctor or therapist and design a plan that will help you get through this stage of your life without resorting to behaviors that will be even more destructive in the long term.

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:06:04 +0000

I find that the majority of the women we work with have a hormonal component to their alcohol abuse. This is frequently true with women we see about other coouter-productive habits too. HTR has it’s problems, of course, and we don’t make recommends beyond the idea that each woman needs to evaluate all of her own factors in consultation with a really good endocrinologist (unhappily, it can nearly impossible to find one of those). As with many medical considerations these days, the research and the popular assumptions are frequently at odds and none of us should rely on the misinformation that is “common knowledge” – a situation we are all too familiar with.

By: Olivia K

Olivia K — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:33:06 +0000

I am in my fifties and am entering into that menopausal stage of my life. It is sad. I do not even feel like myself anymore and do not want to have to resort to HRT because of the health concerns over that. I do find myself wanting more than ever to have a drink or to find some comfort or solace in something because of how down I have been feeling. I have a wonderful husband who supports me a great deal but I see how it could be easy or tempting for other women going through this to resort to unhealthy habits in order to dull some of the emotional pain and the physical upheavel and has seemed to be such a part of this process for me.

By: Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:14:49 +0000

It rarely the women who never drank, Dale. Most commonly it’s women whose alcohol use has been in the healthy range. Various changes result in reversable alcohol abuse that tends to creep up on people whenever major life changes occur. The real problem is that underlying factors never get addressed, or people’s justified conceptions of “treatment” are so awful that problems grow until they aren’t so easily fixed. And, after all, it isn’t just alcohol – it’s also food, inactivity, smoking, and a dozen other things we use to avoid the discomfort and anxiety of actually taking care of ourselves.

By: Dale

Dale — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:51:44 +0000

It always frightens me when people use alcohol or any drug to cover over other problems which are going on in their lives. I find it interesting that women who may have previously never drank before in their lives turn to this at this stage. I wonder why it is that so many turn to this- because it is so affordable, accessible?

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:11:47 +0000

While your experience is unfortunate, Ms.Gibbs, it’s never helpful to generalize from your own situation to everyone else. Afterall, as you admit, you chose to use and abuse alcohol and eventually you had that choice come back to haunt you. “Alcohol” didn’t do it to you, you did it to yourself, and there are no lack of warnings around.

What happens to our youth depends to a great extent on the provision of accurate information – including the posative effects of appropriate alcohol consumption – the broadening of cultural sanctions agains alcohol abuse (MADD has done a pretty good job of de-glorifying drunk driving) and so on.

It isn’t in the least helpful to demonize alcohol or to pretend that we are helpless victums.

By: Sheila Joyce Gibbs

Sheila Joyce Gibbs — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:35:21 +0000

Sorry, I disagree.
I drank for 30 yrs before menopause. Kept my weight very low & basically used liquor to get me through 2 extremely bad marriages.
It wasn’t until menopause that all those yrs of drinking Alcohol paid me back, badly. I was hit severely with permanent Grand Mal Seizures.
Perhaps you should be advising many, of the derogatory health effects that all alcohol is capable of dishing out, at any time, to anyone, without warning at all !!!
We need our Governments to pass mandatory ruling, for Health Warning Labels on all liquor containers!
Otherwise, whats going to happen to our youth?

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:38:56 +0000

I think drinking any organic tea or lemon tea helps in reducing alcohol binging. It worked for my sister who had an early menopause. She used to find herself drunk some nights at home and she realised she would end up an alcoholic if she didnt thwart the urge to drink. She bought 4 varieties of tea and always had ice lemon tea in the fridge. When a martini beckoned her she used to drink tea and hey it worked!!