Sober and bored? It’s Normal Here’s What To Do About It.

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 much of this list is not just about finding things to do, but treating the underlying causes of extreme boredom in sobriety. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community. Remember, it’s not that sobriety is terrible, but that your brain is trying to grapple with the sudden loss of dopamine.

Apologies for the slight tangent, but it’s important to understand that drinking again will do absolutely nothing to relieve your boredom. That being said, if you drinking out of boredom are able to start your sober journey with a feeling of happiness, these challenges can be easily overcome. Being bored after quitting drinking is easily overcome.

5 Years Sober

Various factors lead individuals to abuse alcohol, including genetic traits, environmental reasons, and societal factors. Still, alcohol is a highly addictive substance https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/mental-disorders-alcohol-use/ that can lead to dependency, especially when consuming frequently and in large quantities. Drinking out of boredom may indicate a deeper issue at hand.

• See if there are organisations around you where you could help out, that would love to use your skills and talents.
• Personally, I am still happy to go to the pub with pals who are drinking while I nurse an alcohol-free beer.
• Here are some tips to stop drinking alcohol out of boredom.

Regularly consuming alcohol when you’re bored has both short-term and long-term effects on your health, even if it doesn’t lead to a drinking disorder. People often use alcohol to enhance experiences, but this kind of drinking is problematic because it makes you dependent on alcohol to not feel bored or to have a good time. For example, most people drink at concerts, sports events or parties to transform their experience and heighten the moment. The bored mind of an addict is a funny thing. The longer your thoughts go untethered, the more likely they’ll venture to a dangerous place. To stay sober, you must keep yourself and your thoughts occupied.

Being Bored When You’re Quitting Drinking

In active addiction addicts spend the bulk of their time obsessing over their habit, worrying about where they’re going to find their next fix, and using. Once all those are taken away addicts are left with plenty of spare time. As mentioned early spare time is usually bad for recovery but you can re-devote yourself to your hobbies to fill the void. I used to believe the lie that life would be boring if I didn’t drink. That I would be boring when I went out to events and gatherings. That I would be bored and suffer through situations if I wasn’t properly lubricated with alcohol.

• The current pandemic has highlighted how boredom can trigger the misuse of substances, particularly alcohol.
• Anything to change up that routine of drinking out of boredom and make it harder for drinkers to find a place to get comfortable.
• It’s okay to take risks in recovery if those risks don’t involve drugs or alcohols, even encouraged.
• Drinking out of boredom is common, especially among those suffering from other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
• If you want to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it makes sense to avoid busy bars and thirsty friends.

Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! Seeking treatment is never an easy step to take. The decision is often met with doubt, questioning if sobriety is attainable.