With the holiday season high, there is festive cheer, family gatherings and also an undeniable increases in alcohol consumption that fills the air. Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations to spring break and bachelor parties and sporting events that bring together huge crowds for celebrations mean that drinking becomes synonymous with partying. But behind the revelry lies a much darker behavior: high-intensity drinking.

Alcohol is the most widely used substance in the United States; it has been reported that 84% of adults aged 18 and older reported lifetime use. Moderate drinking is socially acceptable, but high-intensity drinking is an alarming trend. The behavior of consuming eight or more drinks over a few hours for women and 10 or more for men exceeds binge drinking and significantly increases risk for harm.

High-intensity drinking is far from being just a mere passing concern; it is instead a public health crisis. The burden is even greater as 29 million people in the United States suffer from alcohol use disorder. That has caused over 140,000 deaths annually while accounting for 200,000 hospitalizations and 7.4% of visits to emergency departments in the United States. However, only 7.6% of these affected get treated, thus forming a glaring gap in handling this concern.

What Is High-Intensity Drinking?

High-intensity drinking is a dangerous escalation from traditional binge drinking, characterized by consuming double or triple the standard binge amounts. While binge drinking involves four or more drinks for women and five or more for men, high-intensity drinkers often surpass these levels, leading to blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) exceeding 0.2%—a level that significantly impairs judgment and motor skills.

According to Dr. George Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), high-intensity drinking is one of the factors that intensify the risks of injuries, overdose, and death. It is also very highly associated with the onset of AUD, since the chance of addiction increases with increased alcohol consumption per occasion.

Blackouts and Memory Loss Risks

One of the most troubling consequences of high-intensity drinking is alcohol-induced blackouts, periods of amnesia where individuals may appear functional but are incapable of forming memories. Blackouts occur when alcohol disrupts the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory formation.

Blackouts are often categorized into two types:

1. Fragmentary Blackouts: Characterized by spotty memory, where recalling certain details can trigger partial recollection.

2. En Bloc Blackouts: Significant amnesia for hours, wherein no memory is created at all, even if tried to be recalled.

Aside from memory loss, intense binge drinking is linked with poor decision-making, violence, injury, and conflicts in personal relationships.

Why Holidays and Special Events Are Hotbeds for Excessive Drinking

Holidays and celebrations create the perfect storm for high-intensity drinking. According to research, adults drink nearly double the amount of alcohol during holidays like Christmas and New Year's Eve than they do at any other time of the year. It is during these periods of social gathering, holiday stress, and seasonal sadness that people drink in excess.

For college students, experiences like spring break and 21st birthdays increase the danger. Some studies indicate that students, especially those who travel with buddies to spring break, indulge in more alcohol and make more serious decisions than any student who remains at home or goes with their family to other destinations. Sporting events are, too, notorious for promoting drunk consumption, especially among male customers. Alcohol consumption usually goes high during Super Bowl Sunday, thus leading to games day violence and arrests.

Consequences of Heavy Intensity Drinking

High-intensity drinking impacts not only physical health and mental well-being but also social relationships.

Acute Risks

- Alcohol poisoning

- Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances

- Hypoglycemia

- Risky sexual behavior

- Injuries and accidents

Chronic Risks

- Liver damage, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis

- Cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy

- Neurological damage, including memory deficits and blackouts

- Progression to alcohol dependence or AUD

Psychological Impact

High-intensity drinking is strongly linked with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Poor decision-making during episodes can lead to long-lasting consequences, including damaged academic, professional, or personal outcomes.

How to Address the Problem

Combating high-intensity drinking requires education, early intervention, and accessible treatment options. The NIAAA has defined high-intensity drinking to be distinct from binge drinking and has called for targeted approaches to decline prevalence and associated harms.

One promising treatment option is naltrexone, which a medication helps control alcohol cravings. Encouraging in preliminary evidence, more extensive clinical trials will be necessary to ascertain its efficacy more specifically in high-intensity drinkers.

As we head into the holiday season and other special occasions, it is important to heighten awareness of the dangers of high-intensity drinking. A good understanding of long-term consequences and seeking help when alcohol-related issues arise can be the difference between life and death. Celebrations should be about joy and connection, not about the gateway to harm.

If you or someone you know drinks at dangerous levels or have an alcohol use disorder, there is help available. Remember, for suspected cases of alcohol poisoning, dial 911. In this way, we can foster healthier relationships with alcohol and create safer environments for everyone.

Mental health struggles among young children and teens are most likely to get overlooked due to many reasons. That is one of the glaring problems that prompted 16-year-old Imaan Zara Khan to write and direct Unspoken, a movie that follows four teenagers from different social, cultural, and economic backgrounds who navigate their mental health struggles.

Imaan told HealthandMe, "We constantly tell young people to speak up, but what happens when they don’t have the words for what they’re feeling? And even when they do, there’s the fear of being judged, misunderstood or simply not taken seriously. The social visibility cost is simply too high. So, they choose silence instead. I wanted to explore that silence, because sometimes the biggest barrier to seeking help comes long before someone actually asks for it."

The Ministry of Education, Government of India, recently reviewed the draft school mental health policy to foster students' mental wellbeing. The landmark move aims at ensuring adequate resources to protect students' mental well-being by strengthening school systems. Scaling up proven best practices to promote student mental health and psychosocial well-being is one of the primary objectives of the policy.

On World Mental Health Day, we review the government's initiative to comprehend its importance and urgency amid expanding mental health crisis in India's young population.

School Mental Health Policy Aims To Reshape Mental Care For Young Children

Also read: Childhood Fitness Linked To Lower Risk Of Depression In Adulthood: 30-Year Study

The policy entails several key measures to reshape mental healthcare in educational institutions. From identifying early signs of academic stress to proactive screening, it says that schools must routine mental wellness checkups into their academic calendars.

Nandita Bhatla, Vice President and Country Director, WorldBeing India, an international non-profit that works towards integrating mental health wellbeing programs into education systems, told HealthandMe, "India has done well to break the silence. Yet the loss of young lives to suicide tells us that too many children still feel they have nowhere to turn, and that listening cannot wait for a crisis."

She added, "The harder, more important work is making care a routine part of a school day, owned and led by governments, and not dependent on a single programme or a single champion. Schools are the lived reality of millions of our children. When they become spaces to build resilient, hopeful individuals and not mere academic achievers, we know we are on the right path."

The draft also stresses upon building an inclusive and supportive school culture built on a strong foundation of empathy, care, and mutual trust.

The policy also moves away from emergency crisis management. Instead, it aims to create robust, long-term support systems that could help children thrive and stay motivated towards building their future.

Imaan said mental health problems should not be treated as emergencies. She said, "Just as we build physical health through everyday habits, schools should be building emotional resilience, coping skills and mental-health literacy from an early age. But equally important is having a clear, transparent, end-to-end framework that everyone, whether it’s a student, teacher or parent, can understand and navigate."

Also read: Over 2 Hours of Daily Screen Time Linked to Depression, Obesity In Young People: Lancet

Turning Teachers Into Mentors

The policy also focuses on training teachers to be primary mentors for students who could interact with them every day and recognise early signs of conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression. According to the policy, teachers will be trained to identify changes in behaviours and academic burnout.

This does not mean that teachers will replace professional counselors. Additionally, this effort also urges parents to monitor domestic environments.

The policy also plans to channel traditional Indian Knowledge Systems to promote mental wellness among students. It urges schools to integrate mindfulness practices into everyday student activities.

It promotes that these ancient practices can equip students to handle academic pressure, especially during stressful board examinations. The updated curriculum will now support both cognitive growth and development and psychological well-being.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way people work. Tasks that once required hours of effort can now be completed in minutes; therefore, organizations are increasingly using AI tools to improve productivity, reduce costs, and streamline operations. These changes have brought both excitement and fear along with them. That is, will my skills still matter in the future?

The fear of becoming irrelevant in an AI-driven workplace is becoming a source of anxiety for employees across industries. Beyond concerns about job security, many are struggling with the pressure to learn new technologies, keep up with changing expectations and prove their value in an environment where machines are becoming increasingly capable.

The Pressure To Prove Oneself

Workplace anxiety surrounding AI does not always stem from the possibility of losing a job. Sometimes, it comes from the feeling that one must constantly do more to remain employable.

Employees who have spent years developing expertise in a particular field may find it unsettling to see AI tools perform parts of their work in seconds. Writers, designers, analysts, customer service professionals and even experienced managers are being encouraged to adapt to new technologies, often while managing their existing responsibilities.

For some, this creates a persistent sense of falling behind. Learning new tools becomes less about professional growth and more about avoiding obsolescence. The pressure can be particularly challenging when employees are uncertain about which skills will remain valuable or how quickly their roles might change.

Professionals’ Fear Of Uncertainty Affects Mental Health

Prolonged uncertainty about one's career can affect emotional well-being. Employees may experience stress, irritability, difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep or a loss of confidence in their abilities. Some may begin comparing their productivity with AI-generated outputs, overlooking the judgement, experience and context they bring to their work.

There is also the pressure to demonstrate constant productivity. When technology makes it possible to complete tasks faster, employees may feel expected to produce more within the same working hours. What initially appears to be a tool for reducing workloads can, in some workplaces, create an expectation of doing more with less time.

Over time, this pressure can contribute to exhaustion and burnout, particularly when employees have little control over how new technologies are introduced or how their performance is measured.

However, not everyone experiences AI in the same way. Some employees welcome the opportunity to learn, experiment and move away from repetitive tasks. The impact often depends on individual circumstances, workplace culture, access to training and the level of uncertainty surrounding employment.

The Importance Of A Supportive Workplace

Employers have an important role to play in reducing unnecessary anxiety during technological transitions. Introducing AI without explaining its purpose can leave employees filling information gaps with their own fears.

Clear communication about how AI will affect specific roles, what changes employees can expect and which skills they should develop can help reduce uncertainty. Training should be accessible and practical, allowing employees to learn without feeling that they must master every new tool immediately.

Managers should also recognize that productivity is not the only measure of an employee's contribution. Critical thinking, creativity, communication, ethical judgement and the ability to understand people remain important aspects of professional work.

Creating opportunities for employees to ask questions, express concerns and participate in decisions about AI adoption can help build trust. Organisations should also pay attention to signs of excessive workload, disengagement and burnout rather than assuming that employees will automatically adapt.

Finding A Healthier Relationship With AI

For employees, it may help to approach AI as a skill to develop rather than a competition to win. Identifying the tools relevant to one's role, learning at a manageable pace and strengthening skills that complement technology can make change feel less overwhelming.

It is equally important to recognize that professional worth cannot be measured solely by speed or the number of tasks completed. Experience, sound judgement, empathy and accountability continue to shape meaningful work. If anxiety begins to interfere with sleep, daily functioning or relationships, seeking support from a mental health professional may be helpful.

AI will continue to change the workplace, but the transition does not have to come at the cost of employee well-being. Organizations that combine technological progress with honest communication, meaningful training and respect for their workforce are more likely to create environments in which people can adapt with confidence.

Ultimately, the question is not simply whether employees can keep pace with AI. It is whether workplaces can evolve in ways that allow people to feel secure, valued and capable of growing alongside it.

(By Shilpi Saraswat, Clinical Psychologist, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru)

Spending hours sitting at a desk, gaming or binge-watching shows without moving may increase the risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), vascular experts have warned.

Prolonged sitting slows blood flow from the legs, potentially increasing the risk of clot formation. Experts from the Vascular Society of India (VSI) highlighted the concern at the VSI-ASVS 2026 Conference, noting that sedentary screen habits warrant attention even among young, otherwise healthy people.

“In our OPD, we are seeing patients where lifestyle history has become an important part of the vascular evaluation. Earlier, when we thought about prolonged immobility, we primarily discussed long-distance travel, hospitalization or being bedridden. Today, we also need to ask young patients how many hours they spend continuously sitting in front of a gaming console, computer or OTT screen,” said Dr. Tarun Grover, Senior Director of Peripheral Vascular and Endovascular Sciences at Medanta.

What Is DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. If the clot travels to the lungs, it can cause a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Although prolonged immobility has traditionally been associated with long-distance travel, hospitalization and bed rest, experts say extended screen time can also contribute to inactivity.

Gaming and binge-watching do not automatically cause DVT. However, prolonged sitting may add to the risk, particularly in people with obesity, dehydration, smoking habits, hormonal risk factors, inherited clotting disorders or a previous history of thrombosis.

Also read: Richard Branson’s Wife’s Death Highlights Blood Clot Risk After Fractures

What Does Science Say?

A 2024 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports, covering 25 articles and 31 studies, found that people with the highest levels of sedentary behavior had approximately 24% higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) than those with the lowest levels.

The analysis also found a 2% increase in VTE risk for every additional hour of sedentary behavior per day. The association persisted after accounting for physical activity, suggesting that exercise may not fully offset the potential risks of prolonged sitting.

The experts explained that when people sit for hours, their calf muscles—which help pump blood back toward the heart—remain relatively inactive, slowing venous circulation.

A separate study of 11 adolescents with thrombosis found that all reported at least four hours of daily screen exposure, averaging approximately six hours. Eight had DVT in the legs, two had pulmonary embolism and one had subclavian vein thrombosis.

Many also had inherited thrombophilia, a predisposition to blood clots. Researchers noted that prolonged screen-related inactivity may act as an additional trigger rather than the sole cause of thrombosis.

“The evidence showing a 24% higher VTE risk with higher sedentary exposure should make us take this issue seriously. A young age should not create a false sense of security, particularly when prolonged sitting is combined with other risk factors,” Dr. Grover said.

How Can You Reduce The Risk?

Experts recommend taking regular movement breaks during work, gaming and streaming sessions to avoid prolonged uninterrupted sitting.

“Just as smoking increases vascular and clotting risks, prolonged sitting can also increase the risk of blood clots. When a person remains seated for hours, the calf-muscle pump becomes inactive, venous blood flow from the legs slows down and blood can stagnate in the deep veins," said Dr. Bhupesh Garg, Senior Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Vascular Society of India.

The message should be simple: if you are going to spend hours on a screen, do not spend those hours completely still, the experts said.