"Am I Drinking Too Much?” Google Said No… But I Knew Better
Apr 21, 2025
"Am I Drinking Too Much?" Google Said No... But I Knew Better
Ever typed "Am I drinking too much?" into Google during the early hours of the morning with a pounding heart, a dry mouth, and a deep pit of regret?
Yeah. Me too.
In my first-ever solo episode of Sober Fit Life, I’m talking about one of the most common, vulnerable questions people ask when they start rethinking their relationship with alcohol—and why the answers we get from Google quizzes often do more harm than good.
The Midnight Spiral: When I Started Googling the “Problem”
Back when I was still drinking, I had a pattern.
Weekend nights would start off innocent enough—“just two drinks”—and somehow I’d wake up at 3 or 4AM with anxiety surging through my body. My first thought? Why did I do this again? My second? Do I have a drinking problem?
So I'd reach for my phone and Google something like:
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"Am I drinking too much?"
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"Do I have a drinking problem?"
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Or the dreaded, “Am I an alcoholic?”
And that’s where things would get slippery.
Confirmation Bias: The Answer I Wanted
I’d take quiz after quiz, tweaking my answers to make things sound… not so bad.
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I’d leave out the blackouts.
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I’d fudge the number of drinks.
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I’d minimize how anxious and disappointed I felt.
I was desperate for the quiz to say, “You’re fine. Maybe just cut back a little.” And most of the time, it did—because I was manipulating it. That’s what psychologists call confirmation bias: our brain's way of seeking out the answer we want, not the one we need.
Fading Affect Bias: How We Forget the Worst Parts
But that wasn’t the only thing keeping me stuck.
Even after a bad hangover or an embarrassing moment, a few days later I’d think, It wasn’t that bad… I’d focus on the laughter, the temporary escape, the buzz.
That’s fading affect bias—our mind’s way of letting the emotional pain fade faster than the good memories. It's a protective mechanism… but when it comes to alcohol, it can keep us in a toxic loop.
Confirmation bias justifies the next drink. Fading affect bias erases the regret. Together? They're the perfect trap.
“Am I an Alcoholic?” Isn’t the Right Question
Most people assume the only reason to quit drinking is if things are really bad.
But that’s outdated thinking. Today, the more helpful concept is something called alcohol use disorder, which exists on a spectrum. Many of us fall into the category of gray area drinking—not hitting a dramatic rock bottom, but also not feeling great.
I was a health and fitness instructor. I took care of myself in so many areas… but drinking kept pulling me out of alignment.
So Here’s the Better Question…
Rather than asking, Am I drinking too much?
Ask: Is alcohol still working for me?
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Is it helping or hurting my sleep?
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Is it reducing or increasing my anxiety?
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Is it adding joy to my relationships or tension?
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Could I be more present, more confident, more alive without it?
That’s the shift. And it's the one that changed everything for me.
A Different Kind of Quiz (One That Actually Helps)
After years of taking the wrong quizzes, I created the quiz I wish I’d had back then.
No labels. No shame. Just real-talk clarity and compassionate guidance.
📝 You can take it here
You’ll get:
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Personalized results
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A free guide on gray area drinking
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3 science-backed strategies to reduce cravings and build confidence
It’s not about diagnosing anything. It’s about getting honest with yourself and seeing if alcohol still deserves space in your life.
Real Change Takes Time—and Self-Compassion
If you’ve been drinking for 20, 30, even 40 years… why expect yourself to “fix it” in 30 days?
Change takes time. It takes self-compassion. It takes curiosity.
And that’s what I bring to my coaching. I’m not here to tell you what to do—I’m here to walk beside you as you figure out what’s true for you.
If you’re questioning your drinking and wondering what life might look like with less (or none), I’d love to talk.
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