Joy Manning

Some people think that everythings OK as long as alcohol isnt affecting relationships or finances, and that isnt necessarily true, says researcher Ashley Linden-Carmichael, Ph.D., in the department of Biobehaviorial Health at Penn State University.

New thinking is that problem drinking falls along a wide spectrum, from not being able to get out of bed without a drink to hitting up way too many happy hours. For this and other reasons, scientists and addiction experts would like to abolish the term "alcoholic" and use the clumsier but more accurate alcohol use disorder now.

That's because you can have an alcohol use disorder even if youre not getting hammered every day. People who dont know that theres more than one type of overuse dont get diagnosed or do anything about their drinking until they hit rock bottom. Since the disorder is a progressive condition that easily escalates, an early ID can save you a lot of trouble.

Plus, the term "alcoholic" is not only far from being descriptive, it actually conveys the wrong description: its loaded with shame and stigma. It implies that the problem is the person, and thats not the way we view it anymore, says Andrew J. Saxon, M.D., chair of the American Psychiatric Associations Council on Addiction Psychiatry. Its like being a diabetic rather than a person with diabetes. The disorder isnt who you are, its just a brain issue thats happening to youand to almost 10 million other men in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health.

<h1> How Do You Know If You Have Trouble with Alcohol? </h1>

To know if youre on the alcohol use disorder spectrum, you can take an online quiz ( <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disorders" id="6c16694d-d4c8-3af4-af5d-6ed08b89a8ae"> like this one from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism </a> ). Because even a combination of drinking more when you said youd have just one and needing more alcohol than you used to just to catch a buzz could indicate trouble. You dont have to wake up in bed with a stranger wondering how you got there for alcohol to have its grips on you.

If youre not into quizzes (or are afraid to see the results), try this: Take a 30-day break from drinking. (Might as well do it in <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19546096/dry-january/" id="b9477810-3838-3243-a010-bf19b8b4413d"> Dry January </a> , when everyone else is doing it, too.) If you cant do it, its a hint that you may want to rethink your relationship with alcohol.

You can also try signing up for an online 30-day, no-alcohol challenge, or explore a free app such as <a href="https://drinkcontrolapp.com" id="ca474fe7-95f3-36f6-aed0-596829b8df08"> Drink Control </a> that tracks your drinking and helps you stay low risk.

The New Way to Know if You Drink Too Much

There's a new way to think about how much you drink, and whether that amount is working for you or not.

Politics

Local

World

News

Celebrities

Music

Movies

Entertainment

Sports 

Fashion

Beauty & Health

Relationships & Weddings

Food & Travel

Lifestyle

Domestic

International 

Business

Ghana

Kenya

Uganda

Senegal

Côte d'Ivoire

Nigeria

Other Editions

Explore categories

Checkout our authors for the latest content across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulselive Kenya

Authors | Pulselive Kenya

| Pulselive Kenya

Read the latest news across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulselive Kenya

Breaking News & Top Stories | Pulselive Kenya

Pulse Kenya is the most followed news and entertainment platform in Kenya. It informs and engages young Kenyans around the clock and provides updates by the hour.

Pulselive Kenya

Search for the latest content across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone | Pulselive Kenya

Search Results | Pulselive Kenya

Watch the latest videos across entertainment, sports, business and more. Be first to receive exclusive updates with your free subscription straight to your phone| Pulselive Kenya

Videos| Pulselive Kenya

Latest News Updates & Newspaper Headlines

Latest Kenyan Entertainment News & Updates

Latest Kenyan Local Business News & Headlines

Joy Manning

Articles written by the author

The New Way to Know if You Drink Too Much