What is Overdrinking? – What is Binge Drinking?

If you feel out of control around alcohol, or you have a physical or emotional dependence on alcohol, you may have an over-drinking habit. There is no single definition of overdrinking that applies to all people, but continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems in your life, frequent, strong urges to drink, and sometimes physical or emotional withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink are indications of this habit. Your own concern about your drinking habits, or concern from others, are perhaps the best signs that you may be over-drinking.

A definition of binge drinking is when a large concentration of alcohol is consumed in a relatively short period of time, and when this happens regularly.

What You Might Be Experiencing –The effects of binge drinking and overdrinking

Some common consequences of binge drinking and overdrinking include:

    • Feeling out of control around alcohol
    • Feeling as if you need alcohol to feel better
    • Physical or emotional withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink
    • Irritability and mood swings
    • Fatigue
    • Trouble sleeping
    • Anxiety or depression
overdrinking

What You Might Be Experiencing

    • Feeling out of control around alcohol
    • Feeling as if you need alcohol to feel better
    • Physical or emotional withdrawal symptoms when you don’t drink
    • Irritability and mood swings
    • Fatigue
    • Trouble sleeping
    • Anxiety or depression

You Are Not Alone

Over-drinking is very common worldwide, with upwards of 1.4% of people around the world overdrinking. In the US alone, about 16% of the population reports binge drinking and 7% reports frequent heavy drinking.

Both men and women can have habits related to alcohol, although over-drinking tends to be more prevalent in men than in women. People who over-drink often feel out of control around alcohol or feel as if they need it for their emotional or physical wellbeing.

The consequences of binge drinking and over-drinking include serious health issues, financial problems, and strained relationships.

drinking
Over drinking

What Can I Do About It? – How to Stop Binge Drinking and Overdrinking

Traditional treatment for over-drinking most often includes abstinence, in addition to personal or group therapy and in some cases, medication. However, traditional treatment for over-drinking is not nearly as effective as we’d wish it to be.

Thankfully, there are newer, less traditional approaches that are incredibly effective. Understanding how your thoughts and feelings work in a deep, insightful way, goes a long way in taking the mystery out of urges to drink. The No-Willpower Approach that I outline in my bestselling book, The Little Book of Big Change: The No-Willpower Approach to Breaking Any Habit has helped many people find lasting freedom from over-drinking.

The No-Willpower Approach is an insight-based approach that helps you see yourself and your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a radically new way. It can be practiced on its own or alongside other treatments.

Over-drinking Is A Changeable Habit

Although many people struggle with this habit, over-drinking is very changeable. You do not need to “cope” with, or “manage” your drinking long-term. No matter how long or how often you’ve been over-drinking, there is enormous hope for complete freedom from this habit.

Over-drinking is not a disease or an illness; it’s rooted in a few simple misunderstandings about how our thoughts, feelings, and habits truly work. Freedom comes from the inside-out, from seeing yourself, your thoughts and feelings, and your habit in a brand new way.

Over-drinking Is A Changeable Habit

Hi, I’m Amy

I struggled with “over-ing” habits and anxiety for 8 years. I was told by many well-meaning professionals that I would likely struggle with this forever; that I could learn to cope, but that this habit might always come back when I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth today. I have been completely free of my over-ing habits and anxiety for 10 years with no effort or coping necessary. In that time, I’ve shared what helped me find freedom with people all over the world in my books, videos, online school, and my podcast, Changeable.

I’ve trained over 70 coaches to be experts in the no-willpower paradigm through my Change Coach Training Program. I’ve been a regularly featured expert on The Steve Harvey Show and Oprah.com, as well as in The Wall Street Journal and Self magazine.

Dr Amy Johnson

REAL PEOPLE, REAL CHANGE


Nicky

Nicky

“I was on a constant roller coaster of over thinking, anxiety and getting caught up in my past. It felt totally exhausting and I had been using alcohol to numb these feelings for a very long time. I really wanted to find more calm and peace of mind. My therapist finally introduced me to Amy’s book.

I am far more able to sit with my thoughts and feelings now. I don’t get caught up so often but when I do, I can see it for what it is far more quickly and settle back into my place of peace and calm without trying to fix myself or my feelings.”


Martin

Martin

“I had made the decision to reduce my level of alcohol consumption, mainly for health reasons, but found that I was not succeeding through willpower alone. I went online and discovered Amy’s website and The Little School of Big Change, offering not only freedom from unwanted habits, but also broader possibilities for personal change and growth.

Amy’s course helped me not only overcome the drinking issue, but also develop a deeper feeling of peace. Together with this increased relaxation, I now sense the potential for so much more to come. The process is far from complete, but I’m very happy to be on the journey.


Søren

Søren

“I have been sober for the last 6 years thanks to AA’s 12 step program which is amazing. But I was still looking for a manager for my inner problems or some other way to deal with them, and had not found a satisfactory solution.

The understanding Amy teaches in The Little School of Big Change has given me so many valuable insights. One of the biggest is that all my challenges stem from my own thoughts, that I actually do not have to deal with them at all, that they are harmless to feel and that they disappear by themselves when the thoughts disappear. I experience gratitude and compassion to a much greater degree since I have gained a better understanding of how we humans experience life.”

What Can I Do To Change
My Over-drinking?

Free Over-ing Webinar
  • Presents a new paradigm for freedom from unwanted habits, including overdrinking
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  • 90 minutes long

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Freedom from Over Drinking Course

You can overcome overdrinking and I’ll show you how!

  • Digital course – go at your own pace
  • This is a perfect course for those struggling with overdrinking
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  • Over 10 hours of content

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  • LSBC Self-Study – go through Dr. Amy’s flagship course at your own pace
  • 19 video lessons that bring this paradigm to life
  • 1000s of students have found freedom from habits including overdrinking
  • Option to upgrade to guided course

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The Little School of Big Change

About The Little School of Big Change

My bestselling book, The Little Book of Big Change, and my online school, The Little School of Big Change, have helped tens of thousands of people in 50+ countries find their own freedom from binge eating and other habits without therapy, revisiting the past, medication, or willpower.

The Little School of Big Change is a highly supportive 6-week course that shares a groundbreaking new paradigm in mental health that has helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world to tap into their natural health and resilience.

The school helps you see yourself and your psychology in a radically new way—a way that leads to freedom from what holds you back.

START YOUR CHANGE

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