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| Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical and mental health condition that involves being unable to stop or reduce alcohol use, despite it having negative consequences on life and daily functioning. There are three stages, and symptoms can range from mild to severe.
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| Identifying the signs of AUD isn’t so straightforward. Keep reading to learn more, including resources that can help.
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Be well,
Morgan Mandriota
Newsletter Editor, Healthline
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Written by Morgan Mandriota
October 13, 2025 • 3.5 min read |
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| Warning signs of alcohol use disorder to look out for
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| Certain behaviors and patterns around drinking may actually be symptoms of alcohol use disorder. These include:
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- being unable to control how much you drink
- being unable to control when you drink
- feeling compelled or having uncontrollable cravings to drink
- having a “tolerance” to alcohol so that you need to consume increasingly larger amounts of alcohol in order to experience the same effects
- having to drink in order to feel “normal” or “good”
- storing alcohol in hidden places (e.g., at work, in your car, in unusual places at home)
- drinking alone or in secret
- irritability if you can’t drink when you want to
- continuing to drink despite negative consequences in your personal or professional life
- preferring to drink over engaging in other activities and hobbies, including spending time with friends and family
- experiencing blackouts, or periods of time when you can’t remember what you did, where you were, or who you were with
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| You may also experience physical symptoms when you’re not drinking, including nausea, vomiting, sweating, shaking, or even hallucinations. This is known as withdrawal, a sign that the body is unable to function as it should without the alcohol.
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| If you or a loved one may be living with AUD, know that help is available. Check out the link below to find information pages, support groups, treatment options, and other recovery resources.
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