Summer's Greatest Hits: Is it Alcohol Use Disorder? Why Your Answer Matters

This week on the Alcohol Minimalist podcast, I’m revisiting one of the most-downloaded episodes from the archives: a conversation about Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), physical dependence, and why labels aren’t always the most useful place to start.

If you’ve ever wondered, Do I have a drinking problem? Am I drinking too much? Am I addicted? this episode will help you look at those questions with more clarity and less drama.

Alcohol Use Disorder isn’t determined simply by how much you drink. It exists on a spectrum from mild to severe and is based on how alcohol is affecting your behavior, health, relationships, and ability to control your drinking.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Alcohol Use Disorder is definedWhy comparing your drinking to someone else’s isn’t helpfulThe difference between alcohol misuse, AUD, and physical dependenceWhy withdrawal symptoms require medical guidanceHow labels can sometimes keep us from honestly evaluating our drinkingWhy the better question may be: Is alcohol creating results I actually want in my life?An important safety note

If you regularly experience withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, sweating, nausea, racing heart, or seizures when alcohol wears off, seek professional medical guidance before abruptly stopping drinking. Alcohol withdrawal can be serious.

You don’t need to wait for alcohol to become a severe problem before deciding to change.

Pay attention to the data. Look honestly at the results alcohol is creating. Then decide what one small change could move you toward a more peaceful relationship with alcohol.

Low risk drinking guidelines from the NIAAA:

Healthy men under 65:

No more than 4 drinks in one day and no more than 14 drinks per week.

Healthy women (all ages) and healthy men 65 and older: