The good news it has gotten much much better. It actually gets better within a few weeks of quitting……..you will still struggle with boredom but it wont be every second of every day. It gets better and after about a year you will no longer get bored without drinking.

• These may take up only a few minutes but will cut down on boredom and help you keep focused on why you’ve quit.
• Boredom is often cited as a reason for drinking to begin in a person’s life.
• Drinking to combat boredom can be problematic, but you can prevent long-term consequences if you identify it early.
• Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only.
• There’s controversy around whether people should try to manage their drinking or abstain from alcohol altogether.

You never know what might happen, especially if you keep an open mind. The alternative is either a stale, lackluster lifestyle or one where the only entertainment is destructive addictive behavior. Take responsibility and choose the more creative and productive path. Drugs or alcohol can seem like the answer to boredom or drinking because of boredom emotional pain. During the height of the pandemic, parents needed to create a sense of escape from a difficult reality, she says. But upon looking into the sobriety movement and reading “This Naked Mind,” Youngren realized her method of self-care was carcinogenic. This actually a good thing, because it encourages growth.

Boredom Drinking Alcohol Abuse Rehab Programs

If every day was the same we’d soon get bored. Boredom is uncomfortable, but it is also an essential part of the recovery process and is a necessary stage of healing from substance use disorder. Learning to sit with difficult feelings is a practice that will come more easily the longer you’re sober, and cultivating healthy distractions is an important aspect of healing. A study from RAND Corporation showed Americans’ alcohol consumption rose in every age group.

I don’t want to work full time corporate again, just an easy going part time job that I would enjoy would be good. The way I feel now is healthier but I am not confident that I won’t relapse since I miss it so much. Handling emotions of any kind can be a relapse trigger, and this is especially true in early recovery. Boredom can bring unwanted feelings of restlessness, irritation, and low self-esteem, and it’s important to learn and discover healthy ways to manage these feelings.

Dry January 2023

And until their brain finishes developing –the mid-twenties -teenagers are largely driven by their urges and impulses. Overdoses can also create a series of negative consequences. In some instances, an overdose can lead to coma or death, so anyone facing a relapse or overdose should always seek professional treatment from an addiction professional. Feeling bored is a frequent issue for people in recovery, and although the issue may seem benign, it can jeopardize recovery by leading to relapse.

• Learning a new skill is going to take 100% of your undivided attention.
• “A lot of the people I see who are drinking heavily are also eating crap diets.” He then went on to describe how lifestyles that foster addiction often come with other destructive facets.
• This might be a bit uncomfortable, as we often drink to reduce the noise of our own thoughts.
• It clears my head, let’s me think, presents answers to questions that would never come when I’m sat at my desk.
• It’s pretty normal to reduce the entire experience of boredom in sobriety to missing alcohol and believing that getting drunk is the primary way you have fun.
• Fear that life away from alcohol or drugs will be boring can keep people trapped in their addiction.

Without a steady supply of drugs, the brain begins to lose its tolerance to substances. If the person then consumes a high dose, an overdose is likely since the brain is not prepared for the effects.

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

It’s tough in early sobriety but force yourself to do daily self-help tasks like making gratitude lists, reviewing daily readings on recovery, or calling your sponsor. These may take up only a few minutes but will cut down on boredom and help you keep focused on why you’ve quit. Talk to other family members and tell them of your boredom so that they can support and work with you in determining other paths to fulfillment. This might help to deter you from turning to alcohol or substance use in order for you to alleviate your own boredom in a self-destructive, detrimental way. It also makes you accountable to others and them to you, if you’ve extended your hand for help. 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.

But I found myself drinking in bed to rest my body. I have plenty to do as a single Mom who lives with her elderly Mother. So my goal is to put the bottle down to become a more productive person. One of the best things you can do for yourself when you’re feeling bored in sobriety is to find a way to serve others. When I was a heavy drinker, everything involved alcohol. If I was sad, I drank alcohol to feel better.

Months Recovery Support

It is great to not have to worry about getting caught drinking and driving. The loneliness is the hard part, along with the boredom, I isolate myself a lot, I’m always telling myself to go to meetings, meet new people, but I always back out and just stay home alone in my bedroom. When we’ve quit drinking, alcohol is no longer a choice. It cannot be part of our decision making process any more. When we get bored, drinking is not one of the options we have to relieve that boredom. It’s important to fight long periods of boredom to keep yourself sane but you can also embrace the peace of boredom.

Strange thing is, I never felt drunk or had hangovers. I’d just sip wine throughout the day, including when I woke up… until about a week ago I started feeling aching in my liver. Addiction leaves a big hole to fill and if you don’t keep yourself occupied that hole will fill with negative thoughts and actions. The more you’re bored, the better your chances your mind has to drift to dark places so take care of that boredom with healthy activities including meetings, hobbies, volunteering, and more. Before long you’ll happily accept the newfound peace that boredom can bring. The bored mind of an addict is a funny thing. Despite all the pain or suffering addiction has caused, when you’re bored your brain will make you rehash all the ‘good’ times you had while using or will draw up painful and dark memories.