A woman has described how her alcohol consumption spiralled from moderate social drinking to consuming up to four bottles of wine a day following the sudden death of her mother. The tragedy struck on 17 March 2020, when her mother died from an aortic dissection after collapsing while out running.
The woman, who had previously enjoyed alcohol but not to excess, said her drinking escalated overnight as she struggled to cope with the loss. Her father also turned to heavy drinking, consuming three bottles of wine daily after losing his wife of 42 years. The pandemic lockdown exacerbated the situation, leaving her with little to do in the evenings but drink.
She recalled that her relationship with alcohol had been problematic since her teenage years, when she would binge drink until her mother had to collect her. Despite moderating her intake after having children, her mother's death triggered a return to heavy drinking. She described using alcohol as a numbing agent to block out the pain of grief.
The woman eventually sought help and managed to reduce her drinking. She now hopes her story will encourage others struggling with grief-related alcohol misuse to seek support.
