What Is Alcohol Use Disorder — and How Do I Know If I Have It?

If you’ve found yourself wondering whether your relationship with alcohol has changed or if you might need a break you’re not alone.

Many women, especially moms, reach a point where they realize that wine o’clock isn’t feeling as fun or freeing as it used to. You might have started drinking to relax, to connect, or to feel like yourself again. Somewhere along the way, though, that glass of wine turned into something else, a nightly habit, a crutch, a “reward” you couldn’t wait for.

That’s where the sober curious journey often begins.

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What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical term used to describe when someone’s drinking starts to cause distress or problems in their daily life. It exists on a spectrum — from mild to severe.

You don’t have to drink every day to have AUD. You don’t have to hit rock bottom. You don’t even have to look like you “have a problem.” It’s less about how much you drink and more about how alcohol makes you feel.

Ask yourself:

• Do I drink more than I plan to?

• Do I need alcohol to unwind or have fun?

• Have I tried to cut back but find it hard to stay consistent?

• Do I wake up regretting how much I drank — again?

• Do I feel foggy, sluggish, or unmotivated most mornings?

If these questions sting a little, that’s okay. Awareness is the first step.

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How I Fell Into Mommy Wine Culture

For years, I believed the lie that wine was the reward for motherhood. That drinking was self-care. That “moms need wine” was just part of surviving the chaos.

But what it really did was make me tired, anxious, and short-tempered. My patience wore thin, my sleep wasn’t great (3am wake-ups!), and I started to notice the physical effects — the bloated belly chubby midsection that no workout could fix.

I thought I was taking the edge off, but alcohol was the thing creating the edge.

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How Do You Know If You Have a Problem With Alcohol?

The truth is, you don’t need a diagnosis to decide alcohol isn’t serving you anymore.

You just need honesty.

If you’ve caught yourself googling “Am I drinking too much?” or wondering why you can’t stop after one glass, that’s your inner wisdom nudging you toward something better. You might be ready to get curious about what life could look like without alcohol controlling your mood, energy, and health.