Am I an Alcoholic?

Am I An Alcoholic?

Please Stop Asking Yourself “Am I an Alcoholic?”

You’re not a label, you’re a human.

Let’s get something straight right off the bat: If you’re here, reading this, especially if you’re a little buzzed while doing it, I see you. No judgment. No labels. Just some real talk between you and me.

I don’t want you to ask yourself “Am I an alcoholic?” because that question is beside the point. It implies that there’s something uniquely wrong with you, like you’re broken, defective, or somehow different from everyone else because your relationship with alcohol got complicated.

But here’s a thought: what if the problem isn’t you? What if the problem is alcohol?

No really, alcohol is literal poison. (Sorry to ruin wine night, but facts are facts.) It’s a highly addictive, mood-altering, liver-smashing, anxiety-boosting, depression-feeding toxin that our culture has lovingly dressed up in pretty bottles with cute fonts and made socially acceptable.

But it’s still poison. With glitter.

Alcoholism is a Spectrum

Some folks will tell you alcohol can mess with your brain for good, rewiring it so you’re forever chasing that next drink. Scary? Sure. But let’s be honest, alcoholism isn’t just a thing that happens to “other people.” It’s a spectrum, and anyone who drinks is riding it, whether they know it or not. Welcome to the dumpster, friend.

You might be at the “two glasses of wine and I’m giggly” end. Or you might be somewhere near “I finished a bottle of Chardonnay before dinner and now I’m trying to FaceTime my cat.” Either way, if you drink, you’re in the club. Congrats?

And the system we use to diagnose alcohol issues? Mostly internet quizzes. Like, seriously. You’re out here trying to change your life and Google hits you with a checklist that says things like:

• “Do you sometimes drink more than you meant to?”

• “Do you hide alcohol from others?”

• “Do you drink alone?”

Cool. So basically…everyone?

It doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. Alcohol misuse isn’t just a “yes/no” checkbox. It’s emotional, personal, and messy. And it deserves more nuance than a quiz on WebMD next to an ad for probiotics.

Let’s Be Honest – Is This Hitting a Nerve?

Look, if any part of you is reading this while mid-sip, I’ve been there. Literally.

Towards the end of my drinking, I’d sit there at night, glass in hand, brain foggy, heart heavy, scrolling articles just like this one. I’d search for reassurance, for hope, for permission to admit I didn’t want to live like that anymore.

So let me throw out a few reality checks, not to diagnose you, but just to say, “Hey, same.”

• You swear tonight will be different, but then… it’s not.

• You promise you’ll have just one, but one turns into “oops, it’s gone and so am I.”

• You feel pouty when you have to skip drinks, like someone took away your favorite toy.

• You black out. Not “oops I forgot,” but full-blown “how did I get home and why is there a pizza in the bathtub” blackouts.

• Happy hour? Yeah, it starts at 3pm now. Or noon. Don’t lie.

• You hide how much you drink because deep down, you already know it’s more than most.

• You pregame.

• You’ve driven when you probably shouldn’t have. (Oof. That one stings.)

• You meticulously plan how to never run out. You know exactly how many bottles are left in the house at all times.

And maybe you think, “Okay but isn’t this just being a tired mom?” Sure. But also, no.

There’s a line between “Mom needs a glass of wine” and “Mom’s entire evening revolves around that bottle.”

If you’re honest with yourself, you know which side of that line you’re on.

It’s Not About Being an Alcoholic. It’s About Being Free.

This isn’t about labels or rock bottoms or waiting until you ruin your life to decide maybe alcohol is not doing you any favors.

It’s about asking better questions. Like:

• “How does alcohol really make me feel?”

• “What am I using it to avoid?”

• “What would my life look like without it?”

• “Who would I be if I didn’t need this to cope?”

And maybe, most importantly: “What could I gain if I let it go?”

I’m not here to guilt you. I’m not here to shame you. I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy for wondering if drinking is taking more than it gives.

Because if you’re reading this, chances are it already is.

Let’s Normalize Not Drinking (Because Honestly, It’s Weird That We Do)

Nobody ever says:

• “I can’t wait to relax with a little heroin and a bubble bath.”

• “I’m just going to do a line or two while I fold laundry, no big deal.”

But alcohol? Entire industries are built around glamorizing it, defending it, and pretending like it’s the magical answer to every adult problem.

• Stressed? Have a drink.

• Celebrating? Have a drink.

• Sad? Drink.

• Tuesday? Drink.

• Breathing? DRINK.

Let’s stop pretending alcohol is some magical potion we’re all supposed to master. It’s an addictive drug that doesn’t play fair. And if you struggle with it, that’s not weakness. That’s reality.

Final Thought: You Don’t Need a Label to Make a Change

You don’t need to identify as an “alcoholic” to decide you’re done feeling like crap. You don’t need a rock bottom. You don’t need a dramatic intervention scene with your family in matching outfits.

You just need a little curiosity about what life could look like without alcohol, and a lot of honesty about what it looks like with it.

If you’ve tried to cut back and can’t. If you make promises to yourself and break them. If you’re tired of hiding, lying, feeling foggy, anxious, or ashamed.

You’re not broken. You’re just ready for something better.

I’ll leave you with this: You don’t have to be “an alcoholic” to decide alcohol isn’t serving you. You just have to be honest enough to ask: Is this really how I want to feel?

And if the answer is no? You’re allowed to change.

No label required.