While many may think that they are safe binge drinking, it can lead to serious consequences. Taking in large quantities of alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning. Even for those who don’t overdose on alcohol, binge drinking brings many serious health consequences. You may not know whether you or a loved one is engaging in binge drinking, so here are four signs to look out for. Northern Illinois Recovery can guide you through these signs and in finding the appropriate treatment.
You Rarely Can Keep the Drinking Limits You Set
One of the signs of binge drinking is an inability for the person to stop when they want to. If you’re in this situation, you may have a certain amount you say you’re going to drink. However, when you get started, you run past those limits without seeming to realize it. It may just happen without you meaning to, or you get lost at the moment. Either way, it is a reoccurring situation that leads to binge drinking.
You Drink an Excessive Amount at One Time
As a result of the above point, you end up drinking excessive amounts in a short amount of time. If you’re not sure what an excessive amount is, officials, say that when men drink five or more drinks in an hour or women drink four or more in an hour, then they are binge drinking. The reason for this assessment is that this will typically bring the blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 g/dl.
You Have Blackouts
Blackouts are a serious situation that can occur when someone floods their system with a lot of alcohol all at once. What occurs is the alcohol stops the transfer of memories from short-term to long-term, which leads to a gap in your memory. You may wake up the next day and forget large parts of what you did while drinking. If you are having blackouts, you don’t know what is occurring during those times, which is problematic. You could be engaging in behavior that you typically wouldn’t do.
You Are Worried You Might Be Binge Drinking
One of the signs of binge drinking is that you have an overall concern or worry about binge drinking. It bothers you because, in the back of your mind, there are indications that things aren’t going well. With the blackouts and other symptoms, it could be a real concern. You may wonder if you have an alcohol use problem. This nagging in the back of your mind is an indication that you may be binge drinking.
Help for Binge Drinking with Northern Illinois Recovery Center
If you show any signs of binge drinking, take action to get control over your life — but don’t do it alone. With the help of an alcohol addiction treatment program at Northern Illinois Recovery Center, you can begin the journey to a life of sobriety.
During your walk to a new life, we will accompany you every step of the way and be by your side. When you partner with Northern Illinois Recovery Center, you’ll have understanding and compassionate therapists who find a treatment program that works for you. Here are some of the specialized treatment programs from which you can choose:
- A partial hospitalization treatment program
- An intensive outpatient treatment program
- A sober living treatment program
- Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD treatment program
Don’t let binge drinking interfere with living a prosperous and happy life. Now that you know how the signs of binge drinking and how serious it can be, seek help from a qualified addiction rehab facility. Contact Northern Illinois Recovery Center at 855.786.1978, and we will get you on the road to recovery.
