Why wine signals the end of the "thinking part" to our day

Bridgets
i have been giving some thought to all my patients, myself and girlfriends and why we all love a drop of wine. Especially as the government recommends no more that 1-2 glasses per night, 1-2 nights per week.

Drinking wine can be a double-edge sword - it relaxes us, gives us a sugar hit and i think signals to ourselves that "we have knocked off" from whatever it is we started and can chill out and put on a different mask. Our happy, non serious, "just me" mask.

This is all well and good if we don't develop a habit or a need to have a wine to feel the above (ie do you drink to feel relaxed, feel its ok to be you, or to give yourself a little confidence high to go out). If so, then the 1-2 (3-5 glasses of wine a night) can become a problem. I talk first hand of course and i am sure many will relate to this.

The above paragraphs are something i will research with time. In the meantime i would ask that you do 2 things:
1. when you go to have your next glass of wine, ask "why am i having this- is it to relax - am i anxious, irritable, nervous?"
2. self reflect when you drink. Do you change when you have a drink? Are you more relaxed, nicer or is that just what you think happens. Ask people around you. Maybe the opposite happens - maybe you become aggressive, vocal and opinionated. Find out.

With time we will put together the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle. The answer may not be to have wine, every single time. There maybe other options (like chocolate - ok that was meant to be a joke).
have a great day,
ponderous Bridget