Georgia Lewis, a writer, has detailed her personal struggle with what she describes as "menopausal wine rages," a phenomenon she experienced around age 46. Lewis's account draws a parallel to public statements made by television presenter Lisa Snowdon, who also described feeling like "the devil" after consuming alcohol.
Lewis describes a significant shift in her alcohol tolerance, noting that after about three glasses of wine, she would become "a caricature of myself at my angriest." This rage, she explains, felt like a "rising tide of fury" that often manifested in tirades during conversations, particularly if her opinions on politics or music differed from others. She recounts an incident where, after a night out with her husband, a simple question about her keys escalated into an emotional outburst about women's safety concerns.
Beyond the emotional volatility, Lewis also experienced physical symptoms linked to her alcohol consumption during this period. Perimenopausal hot flushes, which began for her at age 45, were exacerbated by alcohol, leading to intense feelings of heat, hyperventilation, and panic. She recalls a particularly striking moment on a cold winter night when she walked out of a pub and removed her T-shirt due to feeling overheated and irrationally annoyed.
Lewis notes that her "understanding and patient husband" was instrumental in helping her navigate these episodes, but she acknowledges that "wine rage is a genuine relationship killer." The combination of perimenopausal symptoms, reduced alcohol tolerance, and anxiety prompted her to seek medical advice.
Her relationship with alcohol began to change following a gastritis diagnosis three years ago. While not abstaining entirely, she has reduced her intake, replacing regular sessions of four or five glasses of wine with more mindful choices. Lewis now favors wines like Merlot, Malbec, and Grenache, avoiding those high in acid. She reports feeling calmer and more pleasant company since managing these episodes, able to enjoy social outings without the fear of unpredictable "Jekyll-and-Hyde moments."