The Human Behind It All
#BingingSober was started by Colleen Ryan-Hensley, a 10-year Navy Veteran. advocate for mental health and expert in mental toughness. Colleen struggled with depression since she was a teenager and instead of expressing her feelings and getting help, she was taught to "rub some dirt on it and get back in the game".
To cope with depression, she started drinking and going on long runs to escape the things that hurt.
When she joined the Navy, she brought this mental and physical toughness with her. Sure, it was the perfect combo for being a great sailor, but not so great for relationships, health and overall wellbeing.
It wasn't until well after her Navy days that she started focusing more on the feelings she kept bottled up and peeling away the decades of toughness she had built up around her.
Today, Colleen shows others how to avoid making these costly decisions and live a balanced life where escape and reality can live in harmony.
Colleen Ryan-Hensley - Founder
HOW #BINGINGSOBER GOT STARTED
It's all about gaining control of your life again
One in six Americans binge drink, with 25% doing so at least weekly. 42% of compulsive shoppers can't pay their debts. What’s more, 73% of Americans admit to binge-watching, with the average binge lasting over three hours! And in those that do, you'll likely see a 25% increase in body mass index (BMI). Unhealthy escapisms often lead to others. Control them or they control you.
#BingingSober wasn't something that happened overnight. It was quite the opposite. The seeds for #BingingSober were planted in the early 2000's when Colleen was at sea, without access to unhealthy escapisms. Post-Navy, she adopted sober binges to mimic life at sea and found the same clarity. Colleen credits this self-connection as the foundation for transformative healing. In 2020, she began to formalize and test the practice that she's sharing today as #BingingSober.
Our Mission
We empower people who are ready for a change to manage their escapism so they can increase their energy and live a life full of vitality.
Our Vision
We will redefine mental toughness and sobriety as co-antidotes to escapism.