Is my drinking becoming a problem?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a pervasive and often misunderstood condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and its severity can range from mild to severe. But the stigma associated with substance use makes it hard for people to seek support.

Recently, Tom Holland spoke about his drinking habits on the Jay Shetty Podcast. And his experience mirrors so many others’ experiences with drinking and drinking culture. He talks about taking a break from drinking during “dry January” and realizing that he was more dependent on alcohol than he realized.

“I decided […] I’ll do February as well. If I can do 2 months off then I can prove to myself I don’t have a problem. Two months go by and I was really struggling. I felt like I couldn’t go out and be social. I couldn’t go out to the pub and have a lime soda. I couldn’t go out for dinner. I was really struggling. I started to really worry that maybe I had an alcohol problem.”

Alcohol is one of the few recreational drugs that, in the USA, can still be advertised! It’s everywhere - television, billboards, etc. Experts estimate that Budweiser spent over $50 million on sponsored ads during the Super-bowl this year. And the ubiquity of alcohol and how entrenched it can be in different cultures can also make it difficult to tell when it’s a problem.

Tom Holland goes on to say that after six months without drinking alcohol, his mood had improved and even his sleep.

But he also mentions one other thing that was helpful: community. His friends were very supportive of his decision and didn’t push him to drink when he expressed his current boundaries with alcohol.

You don’t have to make the decision to stop drinking forever. You don’t have to hit “rock bottom” first. If you have any desire to cut back or you're starting to see evidence that alcohol is negatively impacting your life, then talking to someone you trust about it is an excellent first step.

And while it is not one size fits all regarding treatment (whether that’s medications, therapy, both, or neither), one common thread to successful treatment is community - even if it’s with one other person. This person can be a good friend, a family member, a doctor, or a therapist. Substance use tends to come with a lot of shame. And shame likes to hide things away. But you don’t have to go on your mental health journey alone!

Watch the full interview here.