When does drinking become binge drinking disorder?
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Drinking alcohol is a common social practice in our society. But, how much alcohol is too much and of all the above when does drinking become binge drinking disorder?
Binge Drinking Disorder
Binge drinking is a phenomenon that’s been around for a very long time. Generally, binge drinking is purposeful drinking. People drink for the purpose of getting drunk.
When men have five or more drinks one after the other, or women have four or more drinks, within a two-hour period, that’s considered binge drinking disorder.
What do the statistics say? Over recent years we have seen a heavy increase in binge drinking amongst women (from 8% to 15%), whereas in men over the same period it rose by just 1%. The biggest increase was in young adult women aged between 16 and 24 (rising from 7.3 units per week to 10.8) and those over 65!
The most disturbing trend in binge drinking is that of 11-15 year-olds – although fewer are drinking. Some consume even more than their 16-24-year-old counterparts.
How to know if someone you know has Binge drinking disorder? Look out for the below signs.
Binge Drinking Signs you shouldn’t be ignoring
- Become detached from society, family and friends
- Lack of control over your drinking
- Being aggressive or abusive under the influence
- Drinking alone
- Missing work due to hangovers
- Extreme mood swings
- Your physical appearance isn’t what it used to be – you start neglecting your appearance and your health, including diet
- Blackouts
- Impaired memory
- Irritability and a darker outlook on life
- Sleeping disorders
- Anxiety and Depression
- Simple situations are harder to evaluate – confusion
- Use of drugs to “feel better”.
Binge Drinking effects
It is particularly unfortunate when people engage in this pattern of drinking because they have the most to lose. Researchers have warned that people who engage in heavy drinking risk permanent damage to their brain functions.
Excessive alcohol has the ability to interfere with a critical phase of the development of their young brains. A common deleterious effect is memory loss that can extend into adulthood.
Binge drinkers of all ages suffer the highest risk of alcohol-related injuries.
The other negative health effects associated with binge drinking disorder are:
- Alcohol poisoning
- Children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- High blood pressure
- Neurological damage
- Chronic difficulties.
Often violence is associated with excessive drinking. Too much alcohol consumption can also lead to abuse and dependence. Studies have shown that the risks of these problems developing are even greater for youth and young adults.
Young adults who binge drink in their 20s are more likely to binge drink in their 40s. If these young people would take stock of their drinking patterns and make the decision to drink wisely and moderately, they would save themselves a lot of grief in their later years.
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Getting Out of the Trap- Binge Drinking Treatment
If you see some of these signs in yourself or the person you care about it is time to take charge of the situation. This is when it becomes necessary to look at the options available to the alcoholic who wants to change their life. Professional help is definitely needed. Many of them could have even tried to stop and perhaps do for a short while, only to fall back into the same patterns or binge drinking and alcohol abuse.
There do exist binge drinking treatment options that give people the tools that they perhaps lacked in the first place which drove them to the excessive drinking. Tools for learning, tools for having better relationships and getting along with others, confronting life’s problems, communicating and deciding one’s own future. Tools to prevent further relapses. The tools may include therapies, counselling, medication and relaxation techniques.
There are also professional counsellors who can help you figure out what to do next. Yes, there is always a light at the end of every tunnel. There is hope. There is help for binge addiction.
Would you like to help yourself or a loved one end addiction?
Learn more information about binge drinking treatment in Bangalore or have any queries on binge drinking disorder, do send it to us at info@localhost. Or visit us at Cadabam’s Anunitha. Alternatively, you call at our 24/7 helpline number- +91 96111 94949.
