The fact that many women are under immense pressure due to the combination of work and family is one cause of the increased abuse of alcohol by women. Many women tend to make themselves available to others and forget themselves.

Another pitfall for women who have many responsibilities and are perfectionists, is that they think they are unable to unwind at the end of a work day without alcohol. Alcohol becomes the solution to their stress. ‘A myth’. By drinking too much alcohol it becomes more difficult to relax and to sleep. Of course alcohol can have a relaxing effect, but partly that believe only exists in your mind.

This last fact might be explained because highly educated women often have careers as opposed to uneducated women. Work is a trigger for alcohol abuse, drinking after work has become socially accepted. Shall we have a glass of wine? Is often asked by colleague’s or business partners. But this often this means 4 to 6 glasses of wine.

Alcohol affects women differently than men. They react faster and more intensely to alcohol, they have a lower body weight and produce less enzymes that break down the alcohol.

Alcoholism amongst women is often referred to as ‘problem drinking’, at least it starts of that way. Women seek the effects of alcohol that alleviate personal unrest and tension, increase self esteem, assertiveness or to overcome resistance towards sex.

Also with gay women alcohol abuse is a way to hold one’s own and at the same time hide a great vulnerability.

We can distinguish 4 strategies:

  The "anaesthetic" strategy
Not having to remember. The avoidance of painful feelings linked to a past with traumatic events, such as abuse, neglect or sexual abuse. The statistics that are mentioned for this type of drinking vary from 12 to 67%, which means that according to certain research reports, half or more of woman that abuse substances have been sexually abused.

  The "high" strategy
To be ‘out of it’ for a while, not responsible, lose control, making room for feelings that are normally denied. We cherish the hope that social contacts will be easier and that any sexual resistance will subside, whatever the reasons may be.

  The "adaptation" strategy
Getting on with life, enduring, despite of discourse about an unfulfilling relationship, role patterns, tasks and responsibilities in which you feel trapped or situations in which the scope outweighs the capacity. The caretaker role that’s put on women’s shoulders in our society can cause a lot of guilt and insecurity.

  The "performance" strategy
We drink to help sustain ourselves in social or difficult situations, or to keep up our image, to keep up with men or to seem emancipated. Next to the physical and psychological aspects, alcohol has a symbolic function: it is deemed adventurous and bold with men but also with some women. Especially for women who have traditional ‘male’ jobs alcohol can be used to be accepted as one of the guys.

A "family drinking history" exists more often for women, frequently they have relatives with alcohol problems, a parent, brother or sister or grandparents. Daughter of alcoholics often choose a partner who is an alcoholic, especially if they were forced by difficult family situations to handle a lot of responsibility at an early age. In any case, they are more likely than other children to be abused in emotional relationships and carry the guilt and responsibility. Not seldom do they marry an alcoholic or develop addiction problems of their own.

See co-addition, relationship addiction and codependency.