Ep. 150: How to Know If Alcohol Is a Problem, Even If You Don’t Drink Every Day

Get on the Dry January 2026 waiting list if you know you’re ready for a reset. You’ll receive early enrollment access plus a discounted rate.Sign up at nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist. Episode Summary

Most women who struggle with alcohol never fit the stereotype of the “daily drinker.” They function well, they hold everything together, and from the outside, everything looks fine. Yet inside, alcohol is shaping far more than they realize.

 

In this episode, Sara breaks down how to recognize when drinking is running your life, even if you don’t drink every day. She explores the subtle signs of low grade dependency, how mental energy becomes entangled with alcohol, and why frequency does not equal severity.

 

Whether you are still drinking or already alcohol free, this episode will help you see your relationship with alcohol with more honesty, clarity, and compassion.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

1. Why frequency isn’t the real issue Sara dismantles the old belief that “a real problem” only exists when someone drinks every day. She explains why modern drinking struggles show up through mental preoccupation, not just quantity.

2. The four signs alcohol may be running your life Sara walks through four categories where alcohol leaves fingerprints, even for gray area drinkers:

• Mental and emotional signs such as rule setting, constant planning, thinking about alcohol like clockwork, or needing it to regulate emotions.
• Physical and sleep signs like middle-of-the-night wakeups, sluggish mornings, anxiety spikes, cravings, and inflammation.
• Behavioral signs including, sneaking sips, avoiding events without alcohol, or planning commitments around hangovers.
• Identity signs such as struggling to imagine yourself without alcohol or leaning heavily on your “drinking persona.”

3. The brain chemistry behind “needing a drink”

Sara breaks down dopamine spikes, cortisol crashes, and why anxiety lingers for days after drinking. She highlights why even inconsistent drinking still keeps the reinforcement loop alive.

4. What gray area drinking actually is

Most women who feel stuck in the start-and-stop cycle aren’t “alcoholics.” They’re gray area drinkers living in quiet chaos, often rewarded by society for coping silently.

5. Why a meaningful break changes everything

Taking 30 days off alcohol stabilizes the nervous system, exposes what alcohol has been costing you, and gives you a first glimpse of the peace and clarity you’ve been chasing.

6. The questions that matter more than ‘How much do I drink?’

Sara offers reflection questions to help you evaluate whether alcohol is supporting your life or slowing it down.

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol doesn’t have to completely derail your life to be running it.
• If you’re thinking about it daily, planning around it, or dreading life without it, that is enough information.
• A meaningful break is often the turning point where everything becomes clear.
•  Alcohol is a socially accepted poison that disconnects you from your power, but stepping back reconnects you to who you really are.

Get on the Dry January Waiting List

If this episode hit home, consider joining Sara for Dry January 2026. You’ll receive early enrollment access and a discounted rate when doors open.

→ Sign up free at nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist.

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