Alcohol abuse can be an issue for many people amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic, due to job loss and the stay-at-home orders which are in place. You may never have experienced issues with alcohol abuse, but notice that your alcohol consumption has been increasing – perhaps you’re drinking every day, starting to drink earlier in the day, switching from beer to wine to hard liquor – all of which are signs of alcohol abuse. Or, you may be an alcoholic who has many years of sobriety, finding yourself “thinking about drinking” – and then acting on those thoughts, going into a relapse. In many ways, the impacts of the coronavirus are a “perfect storm” for alcohol abuse:

• you feel anxious about everything going on;
• you don’t want to experience those uncomfortable emotions;
• you rationalize that drinking can temporarily “numb” unpleasantries;
• you don’t have to report to work so you can drink as much as you want;
• you justify that drinking will be a “fun” way to cope;
• you don’t have to worry about a DUI because you’re staying at home;
• you might live alone and not have to be accountable to anyone;
• you can be enabled by drinking with others via video conference;
• you have alcohol delivered along with your food which makes it oh-so-easy;
• you figure that “no one will know” if you relapse…
• what are the reasons YOU may be drinking right now?

On a personal note – I want to share why I’m especially concerned about the coronavirus and alcohol abuse. During this challenging time, my brief “addiction” was watching TikTok videos. Watching these short video clips on a variety of topics took my mind away from the severity of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and temporarily gave me something to laugh about. However, I began to notice that many of these videos had alcohol as a theme: coronavirus drink recipes (using the beer Corona mixed with other ingredients), “Bored in the House” drinking games (featuring the song of that title by Curtis Roach, played in the background of the video), making fun of oneself while drinking (to excess, which is alcohol abuse). These subjects may be funny to some, but to me, it’s no laughing matter. That’s because I’m a Licensed Addiction Counselor, and in addition to the treatment of eating disorders, I also provide counseling for people who abuse alcohol (the clinical term is, Alcohol Use Disorder).

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so this is another reason that I’m writing about the topic of coronavirus and alcohol abuse in this article. There are many reasons why people develop Alcohol Use Disorders, including past traumas, current stressors, and genetic factors. The stress associated with the current Coronavirus Pandemic can be extreme, as people are losing jobs, losing money, and losing their lives. The bullet point list in the first paragraph described many possible triggers for alcohol abuse. How do you know if you’ve “crossed the line” from being a social drinker to an alcohol abuser? My simple answer is, if you’re concerned about that, then you probably have. For a definitive answer, consult with a Licensed Addiction Counselor, or similar type of mental health professional. Amidst the coronavirus, many counseling offices are open (as long as social distancing can be maintained while meeting in person). Other options include telehealth (sessions conducted by phone or video conference).

Although coronavirus issues can lead to alcohol abuse, this time of social distancing and stay-at-home orders can also be an opportunity for recovery. Here are a few recovery tips:

• find friends who will commit to staying “Corona-free” for the rest of this month, and keep each other accountable – you can tell your friends you want to stay alcohol-free for “health reasons” if you’re not ready to share your concerns about alcohol abuse;
• create structure in your day, especially if you don’t have a job – try to wake at the same time, start the day with something positive (instead of checking the latest news), plan breaks for healthy meals, connect with your family and friends (even if it’s virtual);
• make a list of different activities that you can do as a means of coping – consider the 5R’s (from Dr. Dorie’ method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy, or EDIT™ which has applications for all types of addiction):
  • Responsibility – clean your counters (again), do laundry, walk the dog, just do it!
  • Recreation – play a game (NOT a drinking game), play with your dog, just for fun!
  • Relaxation – read a book, watch a movie, take a bath, listen to music, meditate, just be!
  • Reward – download some new music, make a small purchase online, just a little treat!
  • Recovery – write in a journal, make a gratitude list, read recovery blogs, just for you!
• join online support groups (many 12-Step Groups have online options, search for Alcoholics Anonymous) – if you struggle with alcohol abuse AND eating disorders, you are welcome to join the online group hosted by Dr. Dorie every Monday evening. CLICK FOR INFO

Alcohol abuse, eating disorders and other addictions happen in ISOLATION – recovery happens in CONNECTION. Let’s stay connected!

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“Drunkorexia” is not a clinical term – it was coined by the media to describe the combination of heavy drinking along with restrictive eating. A study conducted by the University of Houston in 2016 revealed that 80% of students surveyed demonstrated binge drinking in combination with eating disorder behaviors, such as fasting and/or excessive exercise before drinking, or self-induced vomiting during or after drinking. Reported effects were “getting drunker quicker,” or “drinking without weight gain.” The former may be indicative of an Alcohol Use Disorder, while the latter may point to an Eating Disorder such as Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.

Although other articles about drunkorexia may make light of these issues, or even promote them as a means of “dieting by drinking,” this is in fact a deadly diet. Having either an eating disorder or substance use disorder can be fatal, but a dual diagnosis can increase risk of sudden death due to alcohol poisoning, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance from purging, or other medical complications.

In drunkorexia, it’s as if eating disorders and alcohol use disorders are “feeding on each other” – where the eating disorder may be driving someone to drink as a means to numb appetite, or the alcohol use disorder may trigger fasting or purging to increase the effects of alcohol when tolerance is high. This makes treatment and recovery more complicated – it’s common for individuals to “addiction-switch,” trading the eating disorder for the alcohol use disorder, or vice-versa. Integrated treatment approaches are the key to recovery, where the root cause of both the eating disorders and alcohol use disorders can be addressed.

If you or someone you love is struggling with these issues, here are some recovery tips:

1. Be honest with yourself  – write down the type and quantity of alcohol you consume, how many days each week you drink, and also note the disordered eating behaviors you use (meal-skipping, purging, etc), and why you use these behaviors (to prevent weight gain, to intensify the effects of alcohol, or both).

2. Tell someone  –open up to a trusted friend that you think you may hav a problem. Saying this out loud is the first step to recovery, and making a change in your eating and drinking behaviors.

3. Reach out for peer support – attend eating disorder support groups (the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders sponsors groups around the world), and sobriety support groups (try Alcoholics Anonymous, Women for Sobriety or Life Ring).

4. Consult with a professional – an eating disorder specialist, addiction counselor, or physician can provide an assessment and diagnosis, and can offer treatment strategies for you. While peer support can be helpful to know you “aren’t alone in the struggle,” mental health and medical treatment are the keys to long-term recovery. Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching and Addiction Recovery Coaching can also be helpful to learn recovery skills to practice in your everyday life.

5. Reflect about your values – you might think that you value being an ideal weight or having a fit body, so you justify your drunkorexia behaviors to maintain your low body weight. But what about your value of your health? Or, you might think that you value having friends and fitting in with the crowd, so you justify your drunkorexia behaviors to drink excessively just like everyone else in your peer group. But what about your value of connection with others? What do you really want – to look good – or, to be loving towards yourself and others, and truly loved by others? Food for thought!

Article may be reprinted with the author bio below.

©2018 by Dr. Dorie McCubbrey. Dr. Dorie is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Licensed Addiction Counselor who is passionate about training professionals to effectively guide clients in recovery from eating disorders, through her Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ Certified program. She also meets with clients at her treatment center, Positive Pathways PLLC, located in Evergreen Colorado. Learn more at: https://www.drdorie.com

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Interested in a FREE consultation with Dr. Dorie? Dr. Dorie is passionate about her method of Eating Disorder Intuitive Therapy (EDIT)™ to help people overcome eating disorders and addictions.  She provides customized counseling for eating disorders and alcohol / drug addiction at her Positive Pathways treatment center in Evergreen, Colorado – and EDIT™ eating disorder training and certification for coaches and clinicians worldwide. CALL 303-494-1975 – EMAIL DR. DORIE – GET CERTIFIED

Take this Quiz to Find Out if You Are Dealing with Drunkorexia:

(click on image to download and print a pdf file)

Use these Tips to Avoid Drunkorexia Issues:

(click on image to download and print a pdf file)

Try this EDIT™ Worksheet for Interventions with Drunkorexia:

(click on image to download and print a pdf file)

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