Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing.
A recovering alcoholic has identified a significant warning sign that your drinking may no longer be considered ‘casual’.
Corey Warren has taken to TikTok to discuss his personal experiences with alcoholism and his path to recovery.
While a growing number of individuals are choosing to abstain from alcohol, many still enjoy social drinking over the weekend. Casual drinking with friends can be enjoyable, but for some, it can dangerously transition into a more severe situation.
There are numerous reasons why someone might develop an addiction to alcohol. It could be a means of coping with stress or mental health issues, or a mistaken belief that alcohol is necessary to be ‘fun’.
Alcoholism can have devastating consequences, resulting in severe health issues, mental health problems, and causing pain to loved ones.
There are multiple indicators that drinking might be becoming problematic, such as hiding the quantity consumed or experiencing shame and anger when confronted about it.
Corey highlighted one particular sign that he considers a significant red flag indicating someone is no longer drinking ‘casually’.
This red flag is when an individual drinks to the point of blacking out, resulting in an inability to recall events that occurred while they were intoxicated.
“If you’ve ever blacked out, you probably think it’s because you drank too much,” he explained in the video shared on social media.
“I used to think that blacking out was just a part of drinking, part of having fun, a part of the story I’d tell the next day.
“What I didn’t realise is that blacking out is not what happens when I drink too much one time. Blacking out is what happens when my tolerance is so high that I drink past my body’s limit and I don’t even realise it.”
He further explained: “And that’s not normal, that’s not fun. That’s my brain shutting down.”
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that memory loss occurs when heavy drinking prevents alcohol from allowing memories to be transferred from short-term to long-term memory.
This process, known as ‘memory consolidation’, takes place in a part of the brain called the hippocampus.
Excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt this process, causing individuals to wake up with significant memory gaps from the previous night.
If you’ve been affected by addiction and wish to speak with someone confidentially, you can contact American Addiction Centers at (888) 324-0595, available 24/7, or reach out through their website.