Consuming alcohol is a big part of American culture. It is normal to go out to bars with friends for a night out on the town, or have that glass of wine with dinner. While many people can safely consume alcohol and it has no impact on their day-to-day life or functioning, other people struggle with their ability to restrict how much alcohol they consume.
According to the PEW Research Center, 62 percent of adults in the United States have consumed alcohol with 38% of the nation’s adult population completely abstaining from alcohol consumption. Among adults who drink, 69% have had a drink within the past week. About one-in-five United States adults admit to drinking more than they should.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
What is considered binge drinking?
Largely, binge drinking can be defined as consuming a large amount of alcohol in a single time. Not every person who engages in binge drinking behavior has an alcohol use disorder. For example, someone may drink more than usual in a social setting. They may experience negative occurrences due to binge drinking, but they do not have a reliance on alcohol or experience cravings for alcohol. On the other hand, for someone who is addicted to alcohol, they may engage in binge drinking behaviors.
Specifically, binge drinking is defined as raising one’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) to .08 percent or higher in a short amount of time. This can look like five drinks for men within a two-hour period, or four drinks for women within a two-hour period.
The signs of binge drinking can look different for each person. Some people may binge drink to ‘let loose’ once in a while. While others consistently use binge drinking as a form of escape. While binge drinking may provide temporary relief from stress and life occurrences, it is not a sustainable practice for your mental and physical health.
In some cases, you may not even really recognize how much alcohol you are consuming. For instance, if you go out and order a mixed drink, there may be five units of alcohol in it.
Some signs of binge drinking include the following:
Ignoring the concern of family members and friends
Engaging in risky behaviors while under the influence of alcohol
Drinking alcohol on a regular basis
Drinking substantial amounts of alcohol on holidays, weekends, etc.
Often drinking more alcohol than intended
Having one or more memory lapses after consuming alcohol
For more information, check out our blog “The Four Types of Alcohol Drinkers: What Type Are You?”.
What age is binge drinking highest?
When and why people binge drink varies. Some individuals, particularly college students, may engage in binge drinking due to social pressure or cultural norms. Other people may not even know how to moderate their alcohol consumption. While some people may intentionally engage in poor drinking habits. Regardless of the reason, frequently binge drinking alcohol is dangerous.
Struggling with binge drinking can lead to maladaptive thinking which can direct your behavior.
Some potential causes of binge drinking may include:
Testing one’s tolerance/how much alcohol they can consume before ‘blacking out’
Drinking as a means of escape
Wanting to have fun
Alcohol being readily available
Celebrating
Mental health concerns or a substance abuse disorder
Needing to drink to achieve a ‘buzz’
Taking part in drinking games
Relapsing after a period of sobriety
Witnessing other people consuming alcohol
Socializing with friends and family members, or meeting new people
Struggling with grief and loss
Disobeying an authority figure
To learn more, our blog “‘High Functioning Addict’: Spot the Signs and How to Get Help” is a must-read.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2021, 26% of 25 to 34 year olds reported binge drinking within the past month. The second most popular age group was 18 to 24 year olds at 21%, then 35 to 44 year olds at 20%.
Social, psychological, and developmental factors play a role in a young adult’s decision to binge drink more than older adults or those in the geriatric population. For one, young people are more likely to be influenced by their peers. They often view binge drinking as a social activity where they can use it to fit in or gain social acceptance.
In some settings, alcohol can be easily accessible, such as college campuses. College campuses have a culture of drinking where binge drinking is normalized and there are fewer restrictions on underage drinking. To learn more, read our blog “The Connection Between Binge Drinking in College and Mental Health.”
Some young people turn to binge drinking to cope with anxiety, depression, stress, and other emotional challenges if they do not have healthy coping skills in their tool box. Binge drinking can be used as a way to escape reality, or find comfort in social situations.
What are the consequences of binge drinking?
The severity of the effects of binge drinking depend on your:
Height
Weight
Gender
Mental health status
Frequency of binge drinking behaviors
Prescription medications (if applicable)
Binge drinking almost always comes with some sort of complications, especially considering the potentially life-threatening long-term consequences of frequent binge drinking.
The short-term effects of binge drinking often occur right after you have engaged in a binge drinking session and they are not long-lasting. With that being said, that does not mean that the consequences are not severe. Even just engaging in one binge drinking session can cause alcohol poisoning or another alcohol-related accident.
Short-term health dangers associated with regular binge drinking include the following:
Exhaustion
Lessened attention span
Decreased blood pressure
Reduced motor control and reaction times
Slower breathing
Anger, frustration, and hostility (Check out our blog “The Most Important Things You Need to Know About Anger Management”)
Depressed (Take our Depression Quiz)
Increased anxiety (Take our Anxiety Quiz by reading “Do I Have Anxiety? Take The Quiz and Learn 5 Instant Calming Tips”)
Dehydration
Alcohol poisoning (e.g., seizes, vomiting, coma, or even death)
Long-term health risks can build up over time when you regularly engage in binge drinking. Binge drinkers can experience many medical and mental health difficulties, from liver problems to a loss of one’s brain volume. As your condition of binge drinking grows in strength, the dangers also grow. Remember, abstaining from alcohol or learning how to restrict your alcohol consumption can prevent these symptoms.
Long-term health dangers associated with regular binge drinking include the following:
Weight gain
Stroke
High blood pressure
Higher cancer risk
Social isolation/withdraw (Read our blog “How to Battle the Loneliness Epidemic”)
Diagnosable mental health or substance use disorder
Heart disease
Sleep concerns (Check out our blog by our psychotherapist Rebecca Bischoff, LCSW “Unlocking the Secrets of Quality Sleep: A Therapist’s Perspective on Sleep Hygiene and Insomnia”)
Weakened immune system
Loss of brain volume in younger people
Liver problems
Alcohol Therapy in Hoboken, New Jersey
At Anchor Therapy, we offer alcohol counseling to all residents of New Jersey, New York, and Florida. Our alcohol counselors conveniently offer virtual addiction therapy sessions as well as in-person alcohol addiction treatment sessions at our downtown Hoboken, New Jersey office.
If you are currently consuming alcohol and are in need of a detox, it is first recommended that you seek the help of a medical professional who can support you in this transition. After detox, you may want to work with an addiction therapist near you in Hoboken, New Jersey, so you can maintain your sobriety or learn how to manage your alcohol intake.
If you are struggling with occasional and/or social binge drinking, it may be hard for you to distinguish if you have a serious problem or not. Plainly speaking, binge drinking becomes a problem when your health, behavior, relationships, and responsibilities are impacted. If you start to develop a tolerance to alcohol (you need to drink more to get the same effect) or you begin to rely on alcohol to cope with stress or other uncomfortable emotions, this can be a sign of alcohol use disorder. To further distinguish, read our blog “How to Know if Your Substance Use Has Become a Problem.”
If you know someone who may be struggling with alcoholism, read our blog “5 Ways to Help Someone Battling Alcohol Addiction.”
Working with a Substance Abuse Counselor at Anchor Therapy
Our drug and alcohol counselors take a collaborative, client-centered approach to their work in outpatient alcohol treatment. Our substance abuse therapy process traditionally starts off with a one-hour intake session where your alcohol therapist will gain a comprehensive history of you, including your physical health, mental health, substance use history, and social environment.
This initial assessment, or first intake session, can help your addiction counselor understand the severity of your binge drinking issue as well as assist you in creating a tailored treatment plan. At Anchor Therapy, our addiction therapists are empathetic and will work with you to create realistic goals and help you identify any potential barriers in your journey to stop binge drinking.
A big part of alcohol counseling is being willing to be honest and open throughout all therapy sessions. For example, if you know that social situations where people are drinking are a trigger for you and you are going to a barbeque this weekend where that will occur, voice your concern to your therapist. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Your alcohol counselor wants you to tell him or her the whole truth so they can help you in your recovery.
Creating a treatment plan will be based on your wants and needs. Maybe you do not want to stop drinking completely, but make the goal of only drinking in public settings and moderating your drinking. Perhaps you want to completely cut alcohol out of your life and maintain long-term recovery. Along with therapy for binge drinking, you will gain psychoeducation on the effects of binge drinking and learn healthy coping strategies to deal with your triggers and cravings. In some cases, your alcohol counselor may want to include your romantic partner or family members in on sessions to help them understand your struggles and learn how they can best support you through this process. For more information, check out our blog “5 Ways to Help Someone Battling Addiction and Substance Abuse Issues.”
Throughout therapy, your substance abuse counselor will be with you each and every step of the way. You are not alone in this journey. You will receive the support, encouragement, and accountability you need.
By regularly meeting with a therapist for alcohol issues, you are able to focus on remaining sober or restricting your alcohol intake, gaining healthy coping skills, and addressing any co-occurring mental health concerns you may be experiencing.
The ultimate goal of working with a substance use counselor is to empower you to achieve your goals surrounding the concern of binge drinking. Through alcohol counseling, you will improve your well-being and reconstruct the relationships in your life that have been harmed through binge drinking behaviors. Counseling will evolve as your relationship with drinking alcohol evolves!
These are the benefits of working with an alcohol therapist for binge drinking:
Developing healthy coping mechanisms
Improved relationships
Access to resources and referrals
Pinpointing and addressing root-cause concerns
Accountability and support
Having a personalized treatment plan
All in all, seeking the support of a substance abuse counselor for binge drinking is transformative. Personalized treatment plans, expert guidance, and compassion will lead you along your journey so you can become the best version of yourself once again.
Whether you are just beginning to recognize the impact of binge drinking on your life or you have been struggling in silence for some time, you deserve professional guidance along your journey to stop binge drinking.
Recovery is not an overnight process. But, staying committed to your goals day-after-day ensures that you will create a healthier, more balanced future for yourself. Seeking the professional support of a licensed binge drinking mental health counselor near you in Hoboken, New Jersey is a powerful act of self-care and self-love. Take the first step with an alcohol therapist at Anchor Therapy today.
Victoria Scala
is the Social Media Manager, Intake Coordinator, and Community Engagement Director at Anchor Therapy in Hoboken, New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Honors College of Rutgers University-Newark and is currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the graduate level. In her roles, Victoria is committed to managing the office’s social media/community presence and prioritizing clients' needs.
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