I was reading about the science behind bingeing and the person writing the article pointed out that bingeing is ultimately a sign of a problem, it is a way of dealing with negative emotions. And immediately, it sounds like a good answer, doesn't it? Why did you eat six cinnamon rolls? Because you feel unappreciated. Much nicer than because you're a greedy fuck, which is probably the case.
We like to find issues, to invent a problem where there is none.
I am curious what drives us to binge, why in this Netflix-era we watch five episodes of a show back to back when we know we really should watch just the one. And immediately, you get all these answers like it's a sign of trouble, it's a sign you're depressed or anxious or have low self-esteem. It makes sense, doesn't it? Bingeing releases dopamine, it makes us feel like we're achieving something, doing something useful. We've bought several things, thus we've done something good. At the very least, we were financially able to buy all that so we must be doing something right. I don't think I need to explain the pleasure we get from bingeing alcohol or food. So it must be because we're all sad and depressed and it helps us feel good about ourselves.
We're quick to adopt that reasoning because it gives us a purpose and more importantly, a problem. We love problems because they set us up center-stage. They give us something to complain about, they make us the victim everyone should be nice to and that's awfully convenient when we don't have many people being nice to us.
And while I do believe there is a connection there and that sometimes excessive bingeing can be caused by a lack of self-worth, I do think we also tend to exaggerate. An occasional indulgence (be it sweets or your favorite TV show) is very different from constantly consuming something.
There's a line, but as always in modern culture, we ignore that line. It doesn't matter if we spent the past week stuffing ourselves with chips or if we just spent the whole of yesterday on the house watching Netflix, we're quick to jump the gun and assume the two examples are in the same boat.
Surely, I must have a psychological issue, one that needs therapy sessions and ideally pills to treat. No, I don't think I'm just a lazy fuck who likes doing nothing sometimes or that the tequila tastes mighty good.
We binge because it feels good. And we binge because we can. It's pretty fucking simple. There doesn't need to be a problem behind everything. These days, pretty much every little thing you do (or even don't do) can be interpreted as a sign of a mental problem.
Why? Because you seek to feel good? That's what you're programmed to do, for hell's sake. It doesn't have to mean you have some deep problem, it might just mean you're over-indulging and need to get your act together.
I love this quote by Jordan Gaines Lewis for Psychology Today -
A new type of consumer has evolved in recent years—the love child of the Couch Potato and the Channel Surfer, raised by streaming devices and nurtured by entire seasons of shows available at the click of a remote.
It explains what's wrong with us so well and it has nothing to do with crippling depression, sorry to disappoint you. It's not the article I was reading, but it's a good read and you should check it out - Why We're Wired to Binge-Watch TV.
Thanks for reading,
Image source