In a world so full of stress, is it any wonder that Americans today are more likely to be heavy drinkers and, even more troubling, binge drinkers, than in the recent past. The rising rates of heavy and binge drinking stand in sharp contrast to the drinking of alcohol in general, which has remained largely unchanged over time.
Binge drinking is defined as consuming four drinks or more for women and five drinks or more for men on a single occasion at least once during the past month. It’s commonly associated with a higher risk for serious bodily harm, such as injuries, alcohol poisoning and acute organ damage. Young people, whose brains are still developing, are especially susceptible to damage from even one binge drinking episode.
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, binge drinking and alcoholism was identified as a serious issue in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and especially problematic before a deployment. According to the report, more than a quarter of sailors and marines who were anonymously surveyed within two weeks before their deployment admitted to binge drinking regularly, and nearly 40 percent reported dangerous drinking.
The study data covered 2,351 male and female shipboard personnel and was collected between 2012 and 2014. Of the participants, 79 percent were men and approximately 85 percent were Navy personnel. Just over 12 percent were under the age of 21. Just under 15 percent qualified as alcohol dependent.
As disturbing as these findings may be, are we really surprised? Drinking alcohol seems synonymous with military service from its earliest beginnings; not just as a social activity, but as a go-to coping mechanism for dealing with all sorts of problems; a means for what we today call self medicating.
The military branches have always known how to train up a recruit, but do we give them the tools they need to deal with the stress and trauma they may well experience going into a deployment? Before this report, very little focus was placed on the habits of military personnel in the period immediately before reporting to duty. This report is an important reminder of the countless issues and responsibilities we have in maintaining the health and wellbeing of the men and women who serve. Among them is the need to put sufficient programs in place that provide care, when needed, before deployment. For those who want medical help to confront issues with alcohol, it’s important that they receive it confidentially. Military protocol requires that commanding officers are notified when service members seek treatment for drinking, which certainly could discourage those who need help from seeking it.
We need to give our service members proper training in coping skills that will not only help them with their mission, but that they can continue to use for the rest of their lives.
In doing so, we have the opportunity to break with traditional practices and to try something different; for example, mindful behavioral cognitive therapy (MBCT). While clinical research on the benefits of meditation as a coping mechanism is relatively new, studies are beginning to show its value. At the same time, it’s well established that exercise reduces stress. When you combine the two, the results are supercharged.
“Recurrent depression is rather like a chronic health condition, like diabetes in the sense that people need to learn how best to manage it. MBCT teaches those skills,” notes Willem Kuyken, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Oxford in an NBC News report.
In MBCT training, participants begin by engaging in focused attention, similar to mindful meditation, for 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of walking meditation, where people concentrated on their steps. They concluded the regime by running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike for 30 minutes. Every participant experienced improved moods, with depressed people reporting 40 percent fewer symptoms. There seems to be a synergy between moving and meditation.
It’s also important to note that while some service members may dread sea duty, science is showing that having the opportunity to gaze at the sea has been associated with lower levels of stress. According to a study published in the journal Health & Place, researchers found a “statistically significant” impact on mental health was achieved for people who were able to see the sea and visibility of such blue space was associated with lower psychological distress. While there are many questions to answer as to the contributing factors to this effect, and military sea duty is no luxury cruise, you have to wonder if a program might not be developed to take advantage of the sea’s soothing qualities.
Meanwhile, for 10 years now, exposure to the sea has proven to be a tonic in significantly helping Israeli veterans suffering from PTSD, according to an NBC News report. In a program called “The Boat Is Sailing,” sponsored by Israel’s Defense Ministry, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and Etgarim, Israel’s association for the disabled; approximately 300 Israeli veterans between the ages of 28 and 70 working in small groups have taken a turn at sailing the 47-foot vessel and have reported reduced symptoms of PTSD as a result. Participants are vetted by mental-health experts before participating, but the program is open to any Israeli suffering from the condition.
According to a 2007 study, the sailing program helped reduce PTSD symptoms and researchers observed a decrease in depression and functional problems, along with improved self-esteem. “This disability can’t be seen but you can see its signs – just like the wind,” says one participant. The aim of “The Boat Is Sailing” is not to hide or swallow pain and memories but to share the trauma alongside others. It’s about the benefits of teamwork, of finding recovery together.
Write to Chuck Norris with your questions about health and fitness. Follow Chuck Norris through his official social media sites, on Twitter @chucknorris and Facebook’s “Official Chuck Norris Page.” He blogs at ChuckNorrisNews.blogspot.com.
