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People often say they drink alcohol to “relieve boredom”. If you start your journey feeling deprived, you’re much more likely to experience boredom. While alcohol abuse is common, it doesn’t mean you have to face it alone. Downplaying the seriousness of alcohol misuse and addiction can have impactful ramifications. In fact, alcohol is connected to over 60 different cancers and diseases. Even when consumed in smaller quantities, alcohol can have short- and long-term effects.

• It cannot be part of our decision making process any more.
• Boredom can be a good thing or a bad thing, says Erin Westgate, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida, Gainesville.
• An almost alcoholic may engage in activities such as drinking out of boredom or alone.
• You might run into obstacles along the way that tempt you to drink.

Quitting alcohol alone is harder for some than others, but there’s no need to go it alone. Consider writing them down and keeping notes on hand, so you have a physical reminder to look at when you need it to help motivate you to stay the course. Feeling at your best physically can boost resilience and emotional strength, equipping you to weather challenges that trigger the desire to drink. Finding or reaching out to other sober people can also help.

Healthy Hobbies to Replace Drinking

I’ve been where you are, as have thousands of other sober people who had to learn to have a life again after sobriety. If you have stopped drinking, and you leave your days up to chance, it can be detrimental. Boredom can strike, which is exactly what we don’t want. However, I’m not saying that when you stop drinking, all boredom will instantly be relieved.

• Boredom is what can occur when you feel like you’ve got nothing to do and no real agency in changing that fact.
• You should be able to go about living your life without drinking alcohol, but you feel utterly useless and have no idea what to do with yourself.
• They may be bored with themselves, their jobs, and their life.
• There aren’t many life experiences comparable to getting sober.
• Those are good reasons to drink less or stop drinking alcohol altogether.
• So it’s not that sobriety is inherently boring; it’s that your serotonin and dopamine levels are now very low.

Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol. It’s often easier to turn down a drink when you don’t have to do it alone. What’s most important is looking at your drinking habits and finding a way to cut back that works for you. Knowing why you drink is essential, says Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, a Virginia therapist specializing in addiction treatment and alcohol moderation. If you want to change something, you first need to understand what it is.

Drinking When Bored? What It Could Mean

It’s a great way to boost dopamine and endorphin levels naturally. What did you enjoy doing before drinking came around and took over your social life? If you must dig WAY back into childhood for this answer, then do that. Staying busy is a great way to stave off boredom and create space for healing the parts of your brain that took a walloping from drinking. It’s particularly therapeutic to find something to do with your hands.

You could swim with sharks, or try mountain biking, or try new food. Participating in new and thrilling experiences will show you there’s more to life than addiction that you can take advantage of in sobriety. Don’t get your thrills from booze or heroin, get them directly from your own brain by trying new and exciting things. By participating in addiction treatment programs, you can effectively address your drinking out of boredom and take the necessary steps towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Boredom and binge drinking often go hand-in-hand, as drinking alcohol to pass the time and relieve boredom is a common occurrence.

Rediscover hobbies

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. Reflect on your drinking patterns and keep track of them to identify your boredom drinking triggers. With self-awareness, you’ll be better equipped to understand and address your habits. Exploring creative outlets and learning new skills can be a great way to find fulfillment and combat boredom without relying on alcohol. By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage boredom and negative emotions without turning to alcohol, improving your overall mental health and well-being.

As the saying goes, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” Anyone with too much time on their hands may find themselves in hot water. People who tend to be bored may also be weary or restless because of a lack of personal interests. They may be bored with themselves, their jobs, and their life. Another aspect of boredom is focus, so if you’re in your own home, then you should have plenty to do.

Substance Abuse Treatment

Try and find ways to build other people into your daily patterns. Different activities will in turn create different thoughts and even the smallest change can start to make a big difference. If you are filling voids in your life with alcohol, then you need to decide what else can fill you up instead.

In response, some people seek outlets that are detrimental to their well-being. Drinking out of boredom is common, especially among those suffering from other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ What we do—the behaviors we choose to engage in—heavily affect how we feel about ourselves. What this means is that we have personal control and responsibility for reducing boredom in our lives.

But boredom can be a very powerful motivator, boredom breeds curiosity, inspiration, innovation, new experiences. This subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for advice, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit or cut down. Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile. As difficult a challenge as boredom can present to overcome for anyone of any age, the answer lies in confronting and moving through and beyond the causes of boredom.

If boredom drinking becomes unmanageable or leads to alcohol addiction, seeking professional help can be crucial for taking control of your life and preventing potential health risks. Therapy and counseling services can provide you with the support and guidance you need, and addiction treatment programs can help you address the underlying causes of your boredom drinking. Are you tired of drinking out of boredom and ready to embrace a sober life in 2023?