I’m Bored Unless I’m Drunk, But Is That Actually a Problem?

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. If you want to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it makes sense to avoid busy bars and thirsty friends. But many of us should because millions of us resort to drinking out of boredom whilst relaxing at home. If you’re having trouble making this change alone, Sunlight Recovery offers programs like individual therapy, group therapy and medical detox to help you with drug and alcohol treatment.

Instead, it depends on whether your use causes problems in your life. But I PROMISE you, if you keep moving forward, things in your brain will start to click. And one day, it will occur to you that you’re actually happy and enjoying your life. Your doctor may even prescribe you supplements to correct drinking out of boredom vitamin deficiencies, which is why I always encourage them to visit their doctors and have an honest conversation about their alcohol consumption. If you have the time, sign on to a longer-term project like helping with this year’s charity bake sale or the big 5K race your city holds yearly.

Engage in Physical Exercise and Outdoor Activities:

Sitting in traffic, for instance, is one of those things that most people would rather forego. Other tasks like laundry and cleaning the house can cause boredom and be a source of anxiety. Traveling can also help you gain a new perspective and appreciate the world.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your doctor may even recommend medication to help treat depression and anxiety. My friends https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/essential-tremor-alcohol/ and I got together for happy hours after work. It all felt normal, even the terrible parts like awful hangovers and hangxiety.

Fears About Sobriety That Will Sabotage Your Recovery

However, these studies mainly focus on young adults rather than adolescents. Lammers et al. (2013) investigated early adolescence and found that drinking expectancies partly mediate the relationship between personality profiles and alcohol use patterns. In particular, the effects of impulsivity and sensation seeking on alcohol use were seen to be mediated by drinking expectancies. While you may have initially used drugs and alcohol to self-medicate or due to peer pressure, you most likely ended up using for recreational purposes during active addiction.

Boredom can add a level of helplessness or emptiness that makes drinking or using drugs appealing. For this reason, learning to avoid boredom proves important. Activities that use both your hands and brain like crosswords, cross-stitching, and jigsaw puzzles can keep you occupied and your mind off any pain or negative feelings.

Tips For Overcoming Boredom in Sobriety

Not exactly, but it can make you feel better, which has a ripple effect on whether or not you enjoy your life. It is very common for people to replace alcohol with sugar in the beginning, which is detrimental not only to your waistline and physical health but your mental well-being as well. It also opens up space to approach your internal world differently. One of the biggest impediments to my sobriety during my relapse days was my inability to avoid getting consumed by emotions.

So seek the help of other, non-judgy supportive people to help you stop drinking out of boredom. Self-medicating can drastically impact overall health and well-being. It’s also a common reason many become dependent on substances. Not only this, self-medicating can lead to and exacerbate mental health conditions leading to a dual diagnosis condition. Learning healthy coping skills, unfortunately, is not as intuitive as it might seem. Dealing with monotony and underlying mental health issues typically requires self-awareness and outside assistance through various forms of therapy addressing underlying conditions.

I’m Bored Unless I’m Drunk, But Is That Actually a Problem?

When boredom strikes, it is easy to reach out for something to make the time pass more quickly. For some in recovery from addiction, this can mean breaking their sobriety. They may reach for a few drinks or using drugs to feel good and change their routine. When boredom and substance abuse occur together, it can mean the end of staying sober. Do you find that boredom often makes you want to abuse drugs or alcohol? Our mental health professionals and physicians work together as a team.