Are You Binging These Days?

September 22, 2023

Back in 2020, when MEA's campus remained shut for over six months, and I found myself blessed with time on my hands, I began to consume alcohol every night. While I seldom indulged in excess in a single night, I can admit that for about a year, I was engaged in binge drinking.

Sound familiar?

Apparently, we’re not alone. According to this New York Times story, binge drinking among middle-agers has risen from 23% in 2012 to 30% in 2022 (interestingly, during the same time, binge drinking among young adults declined).

Why do we feel the need to “dim” ourselves (as our mindfulness teacher Teddi calls it)? Could meditation reduce our need for medication?

Yesterday, I wrote about the midlife reckoning ball. Perhaps one aspect of this reckoning could involve examining our relationship with coping substances. Are they fostering our well-being, and could we consider abstaining from them for a month without any consequences?

‍
– Chip