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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
I had no idea. Here she was, sitting next to George Stephanopolus on GMA and she was having panic attacks, anxiety, and dealt with it by drinking.
wow.
Video of George and Elizabeth: I am an alcoholic.
"At night I - that was a ritual," she said. "I should've realized it was a problem way back when Zachary, my oldest son, was born. And he used to call my nightly glass of wine 'mommy's juice.' You know, and I thought that was hysterical. It didn't occur to me that that was a problem."
Vargas said alcoholism was "a progressive, deadly disease," and said she didn't start drinking until later in life.
She described having a panic attack on live television when she was anchoring local news in Chicago. She took beta blockers for her anxiety.
"That's exhausting, to live like that. And it becomes very easy to think 'I deserve this glass of wine. I'm so stressed out … ," she said.
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Posted 1/24/14 11:09 AM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
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| Posted 1/24/14 11:46 AM |
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TheDollyMama
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/13 538 total posts
Name:
DollyMama
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
my thoughts exactly!
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| Posted 1/24/14 11:47 AM |
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MrsA714
Baby #2 is here!
Member since 8/07 8806 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
Seriously 
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| Posted 1/24/14 11:49 AM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by MrsA714
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
Seriously
We can all go together. My ds even calls my wine glass mommy's boppie (bottle)
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| Posted 1/24/14 12:17 PM |
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JAPH23
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/13 769 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
Amen
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| Posted 1/24/14 12:34 PM |
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Jugglemom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/12 809 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by alli3131
Posted by MrsA714
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
Seriously
We can all go together. My ds even calls my wine glass mommy's boppie (bottle)
Whew! I'm glad you all said it because I was startling to question myself! Lol!
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| Posted 1/24/14 12:44 PM |
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Adri
Joy!
Member since 5/05 3116 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by Jugglemom
Posted by alli3131
Posted by MrsA714
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
Seriously
We can all go together. My ds even calls my wine glass mommy's boppie (bottle)
Whew! I'm glad you all said it because I was startling to question myself! Lol!
I was thinking the same and getting very worried! 
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| Posted 1/24/14 1:06 PM |
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MrsA714
Baby #2 is here!
Member since 8/07 8806 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Hey if we need rehab, may I suggest a nice place in Malibu maybe? I could use a little warm weather vacay. I mean, it wouldn't be the same w/o the wine but...
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| Posted 1/24/14 1:14 PM |
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Ayne11
Yep
Member since 1/09 18021 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
I think it's pretty great she recognized a problem that started from a simple glass of wine every night & sought out treatment! Good for her!
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| Posted 1/24/14 2:00 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Elizabeth Vargas:
I think it's moreso that you CAN'T go without those nightly glasses of wine. If you can't do that, then yes, that is an alcoholic. That is probably what she means. She couldn't go without it. Alcoholism doesn't always have to be someone drunk and stumbling.
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| Posted 1/24/14 2:00 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by Ayne11
I think it's pretty great she recognized a problem that started from a simple glass of wine every night & sought out treatment! Good for her!
I agree!
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| Posted 1/24/14 2:01 PM |
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Naner325
waiting on nugget!
Member since 6/10 4432 total posts
Name:
N
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
I saw this on GMA when I was getting ready this morning and I was shocked.
I believe that when they were speaking about it, it was that it started out as one glass of wine a night, then 2, then 3 and that she became dependant on it and it even began effecting her career. That was when she realized it was a bigger problem
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| Posted 1/24/14 2:23 PM |
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shadows
LIF Adult
Member since 1/10 4694 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by Jugglemom
Posted by alli3131
Posted by MrsA714
Posted by NervousNell
I can't watch the video at work, and I only read the little blurb above, so I am sure there is more to it...but if having a nightly glass of wine as a mommy makes you an alcoholic, I better get into treatment, stat!
Seriously
We can all go together. My ds even calls my wine glass mommy's boppie (bottle)
Whew! I'm glad you all said it because I was startling to question myself! Lol!
Seriously!!! I actually thought a glass of wine a day was healthy.
But if it became 2, 3, + like the PP said then yea... glad she admitted it and got help.
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| Posted 1/24/14 3:27 PM |
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LIRascal
drama. daily.
Member since 3/11 7287 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Elizabeth Vargas:
Yeah she talks about how it was more like 3 or 4 and once, she showed up hammered for an interview on 20/20  seriously? She did a great job hiding it.
Good for her for seeking treatment, but omg. totally shocked.
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| Posted 1/24/14 9:12 PM |
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Annie91606
Brotherly love
Member since 12/07 1816 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by BargainMama
I think it's moreso that you CAN'T go without those nightly glasses of wine. If you can't do that, then yes, that is an alcoholic. That is probably what she means. She couldn't go without it. Alcoholism doesn't always have to be someone drunk and stumbling.
Exactly. Many women become alcoholics in midlife. I think it stems from using booze as a crutch to get through stressful times, and it can escalate from there.
Most people can drink a glass of wine every night, and it won't become an issue. For others, it can be the start of a problem. I personally think if alcoholism runs in your family, that is more likely to happen.
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| Posted 1/24/14 9:44 PM |
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
I think it's very courageous that she is sharing her story. I am sure there are many women that can relate. Alcoholism can happen to highly functional good mothers too. It's ok to get help and not be ashamed.
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| Posted 1/24/14 10:09 PM |
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FirstMate
My lil cowboy
Member since 10/10 7790 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by LIRascal
Yeah she talks about how it was more like 3 or 4 and once, she showed up hammered for an interview on 20/20 seriously? She did a great job hiding it.
Good for her for seeking treatment, but omg. totally shocked.
I was too! When the teaser came on at 7 am I had to rewind it because I thought I heard incorrectly. Totally shocked. She did a great job hiding it. I hope she continues to do well because I like her.
She didn't specify but I think it was a whole lot more than 1,-4 glasses of wine per night. She said her DH told her she had a problem and she ignored him for awhile.
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| Posted 1/24/14 10:11 PM |
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sfp0701
Liam's Mommy!
Member since 1/07 9764 total posts
Name:
Tricia
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by Annie91606
Posted by BargainMama
I think it's moreso that you CAN'T go without those nightly glasses of wine. If you can't do that, then yes, that is an alcoholic. That is probably what she means. She couldn't go without it. Alcoholism doesn't always have to be someone drunk and stumbling.
Exactly. Many women become alcoholics in midlife. I think it stems from using booze as a crutch to get through stressful times, and it can escalate from there.
Most people can drink a glass of wine every night, and it won't become an issue. For others, it can be the start of a problem. I personally think if alcoholism runs in your family, that is more likely to happen.
I agree. I have major alcoholism in my family. I love my wine but for me I can see every night becoming a problem. I am constantly watching myself. I drink a glass two nights a week. In the summer more and there are times I have to step back and say.. It's too much lately. I don't know if that means I am feeling addiction or that I am very aware of what could happen so I am constantly evaluating it
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| Posted 1/25/14 9:42 PM |
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NewMrs7312
LIF Adult
Member since 12/12 977 total posts
Name:
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
I was totally shocked as well! Just goes to show, you never know what someone is dealing with in their personal life- even when they seem completely put together!
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| Posted 1/26/14 11:06 PM |
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HoneyBadger
YourWorstNightmare.
Member since 10/06 15979 total posts
Name:
BahBahBlackJeep
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Re: Elizabeth Vargas: "I am an alcoholic."
Posted by BargainMama
I think it's moreso that you CAN'T go without those nightly glasses of wine. If you can't do that, then yes, that is an alcoholic. That is probably what she means. She couldn't go without it. Alcoholism doesn't always have to be someone drunk and stumbling.
Yes, this.
It seems she had to have it and it progressed to more than just one glass; more like 4-5 at least.
Not all alcoholics are fall down drunk, many of them are functional, hence the term "Functioning Alcoholic".
Good on her for coming clean, that is the first and most important step of recovery...
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| Posted 1/27/14 9:37 AM |
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