Once you grab a drink and get caught up in the atmosphere of a night out, it’s easy to forget all about responsible drinking. You may quickly find yourself saying, “One more won’t hurt,” and losing count of how many drinks you’ve had. That’s why it’s helpful to set a limit before you ever set foot in the party. But it’s certainly possible to limit your drinking and enjoy yourself, with no hangover or regretful moments involved. In this post, we’ll talk about how to drink responsibly in social situations—and still have fun.
Seek Effective Treatment for Binge Drinking
Additionally, while not everyone who binge drinks develops an alcohol use disorder, repeated episodes of binge drinking are a known risk factor for dependency and addiction over time. Many people who binge drink do so to cope with negative feelings, such as anxiety and stress or manage pain. Studies show that women reported 41% more heavy drinking days during 2020’s challenging pandemic days as compared to in 2019. Also, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 20% of the people with social anxiety disorder also suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. Some binge drinkers only drink once a week; others even less frequently. In fact, abstaining from alcohol between sessions of excessive alcohol consumption is a key characteristic of binge drinking.
Drinking Excessively? Here’s How to Gain Control Over Binge Drinking.
Immediate risks include impaired judgment and the potential for accidents. Long-term consequences may involve chronic diseases and ongoing mental health problems. Adolescents, whose brain development and cognitive functions are still evolving, are particularly vulnerable. Learning how to stop binge drinking is a personal journey that requires commitment, support, and practical strategies. By recognizing your triggers, setting realistic goals, building a support network, and developing healthy coping mechanisms, you can take control of your drinking habits. Binge drinking is a form of alcohol abuse and why can’t i control my drinking is a recognised factor in many alcohol use disorders (AUD’s).
Adults
7 And a lack of impulse control is another commonly-shared quality in people with disordered drinking and eating habits of all types. By drinking a lot quickly, the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream can stop your body from working properly. This puts you at greater risk of accidents, alcohol poisoning and other short- and long-term health issues.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher. Men typically reach this point after five or more drinks in two hours. For women, this occurs after four or more drinks in the same time period. Unhealthy alcohol use includes any alcohol use that puts your health or safety at risk or causes other alcohol-related problems. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male has five or more drinks within two hours or a female has at least four drinks within two hours. These are the types of feelings people will experience as they reduce their alcohol or drug use.
- If your buddies are trying to get you drunk, that’s another story.
- How quickly a person’s body absorbs alcohol may depend on their sex, age, and body size.
- Repeated episodes of binge drinking can lead to serious health consequences, including long-term cognitive deficits such as attention and memory impairments.
- Social events like parties, tailgates, and fraternity or sorority functions often involve drinking games that encourage rapid and excessive alcohol consumption.
Attend a local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting or other alcohol support group for valuable information. If you think you may have an alcohol use problem, you can attend either format. If you don’t think you have a problem but want to gather information for yourself or another, attend an open meeting.
