**4.6 Prevention of binge drinking**

Binge drinking can be deadly in itself and may lead to an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Take steps to cut down or abstain from alcohol before it seriously impacts your life. Here are five ways how to stop binge drinking.

### *4.6.1 Make a plan and put it in writing*

Make a specific plan and write it down in a little notebook. Write down the causes of alcohol consumption and focus on gradual withdrawal. Record and look at the possible consequences of the various dangerous problems caused by the chemical poisoning of alcohol in the brain. If you feel like drinking, be aware of how much you are drinking or your condition. As a result, you can better diagnose your triggers and avoid the risk of foolish drinking.

*The Physiological Effect of Excessive Indulgence: Its Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109099*

### *4.6.2 Change your environment*

Control the triggers of your drinking habits by eliminating the people, places, and events that lead to binge drinking. Games like "Beer Pong" or "Quarters" force you to drink too fast, so you don't realize how much you're drinking. Limit yourself to certain rules and drink non-alcoholic beverages.

### *4.6.3 Rely on family and friends for support*

Create the mentality of staying away from or reducing alcohol consumption. There are some "accountability buddies" in your standardized support system who drink very little or no alcohol to help stop binge drinking. This helps prevent your trigger or depression. Even before planning an event where alcohol will be present. But with you comes a faithful aid as well as alcohol.

### *4.6.4 Abstinence may be your best approach*

This is a simple and appropriate method were trying to abstain from alcohol or reduce its use. Alcohol use disorder AUD. It has symptoms and educates yourself about it. Join local alcoholic anonymous meetings and other alcohol support groups for valuable information. Which can prevent excessive drinking.

### *4.6.5 Ask yourself why you drink excessively*

A therapist is needed to help you reduce stress, anxiety, loneliness, or other negative feelings, or to help you choose healthy ways to deal with feelings of being socially more comfortable. Make life easier by applying positive lifestyle changes, such as regular physical activity, eating nutritious food, participating in exciting sports or hobbies, and engaging yourself in alcohol-free events. Studies have shown that limiting yoga, mindfulness, inspirational reading, positive self-talk, negative news or TV shows, and spending time with positive thinkers improve self-esteem, mood, and long-term restraint. If it seems that AUG has an effect, take the medicine with the advice of a doctor who can prevent the disease.

## **5. Binge watching**

The rise of binge-watching is becoming more common due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It can affect the body's energy balance and cause stress [67]. Binge-watching is a type of entertainment that occurs when people spend a lot of time watching TV. Although it's usually related to the show, there are concerns about its negative effects [68].

According to a study conducted by Sung et al., about 3 out of 4 of the respondents admitted to being binge viewers. In addition, research revealed that about 70% of TV viewers between the age of 13 and 49 consume at least one episode of a show at a time [69]. The term binge viewing refers to an excessive amount of television viewing. It has been known that media consumption can lead to various health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. In addition, viewers who binged on TV were more prone to experiencing loneliness and depression [70].

Today, most households in the US use a streaming service, and the amount of time they spend watching TV has drastically changed. Also, the rise of the Internet has increased the amount of time that college students spend watching TV [71].

Binge-watching is a type of entertainment that occurs when people spend a lot of time watching TV. It can be described as consuming at least two episodes of a particular series in one sitting. The length and number of these episodes are both referred to [72].

### **5.1 Binge-watching is like a drug**

It's widely known that binge-watching TV shows can produce a high. Dopamine is a chemical that helps us feel good, and it's produced by our brain when we're engaged in an enjoyable activity. The release of this chemical helps us feel good, and it's similar to the effects of drugs and other substances that are addictive. As long as you continue to watch TV shows, your brain will continue to produce this chemical [73].

According to a survey conducted by Netflix, 73% of the people who bingewatched said they felt positive about their experience. According to psychiatrist Danesh A. Ali, a psychiatrist at North-western Medicine, repeated exposure to certain behaviours and thoughts can create neural patterns that are hard to break [74].

The effects of marathon viewing can have detrimental effects on your relationships and goals. It can make you feel irritable, defensive, and unreasonable if you're asked to stop, and it can even lead to you lying to cover up your binge. You may also find yourself constantly increasing the amount of time that you spend watching TV.

### **5.2 Health concerns**

### *5.2.1 Binge-watching leads to mental health issues*

Binge-watchers are more prone to experiencing depression and anxiety. They also reportedly have less self-control. One of the researchers, Yoon Hi Sung, said that viewers might start to neglect their relationships with others as a result of the increasing number of binge-watching [68, 75].

The same pathways that lead to sex addiction and heroin addiction are the same ones that trigger addiction to binge-watching. The body can become addicted to substances or activities that produce dopamine, which is a chemical that's involved in pleasure [73].

Excessive TV watching is linked to feelings of guilt, regret, and failure. After a binge-watching session, the viewers are more likely to feel depressed and anxious once the show has already ended. People might think that they will feel better if they're watching TV or some type of entertainment. They will feel more stressed out if they're binge-watching.

### *5.2.2 Binge-watching makes the show less fulfilling*

Binge-watching revealed that people who watched several episodes of a show in one sitting were less likely to enjoy it. According to Damon Lindelöf, the co-creator of the show Lost, the concept of anticipation does not exist in binge culture.

Due to the popularity of binge-watching, it has become difficult for people who have not finished a new season to avoid spoilers on social media. Also, the lack of agreement regarding when the embargo should be lifted can cause conflicts among fans.

### *5.2.3 Binge-watching can cause serious physical health problems*

It has been known that prolonged sitting can lead to various health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and blood clots. People who are prone to binge-watching are also more likely to eat unhealthy food and gain weight.

People who binge-watch TV shows are more prone to experiencing fatigue and poor sleep quality. They also reportedly have higher chances of dying early.

Heavy users reported poor health-related characteristics and the unhealthiest dietary habits. Binge-watching was also associated with a higher likelihood of consuming fast food and having family meals in front of a TV.

### *5.2.4 Binge-watching leads to back problems*

One of the most important factors that contribute to a healthy life is the spine. Unfortunately, many people who watch TV while sitting on their knees are prone to developing poor posture and experiencing back pain [76]. When people watch TV for a long time, their posture becomes curved, which makes them feel more comfortable. However, if it lingers too long, the smooth and balanced limbs become compressed, which can cause pain.
