I often think that the word being in recovery is misused. And the reason is that when I was drinking, I was literally recovering. Every single day of my life, I was recovering from a headache, hangover and watery eyes, and just trying to get through the day.
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I would like to invite anyone reading this to be patient with themselves, and to find ways to adjust to their boredom and discomfort with doing something different. And we usually drink at the first hint of being bored. If you have kids, you know that your kids always say, I’m bored, there’s nothing to do. And it’s usually after they’ve been watching the iPad for way too long.
Build a strong support network.
Drinking when bored is essentially hitting the skip button on hours of your life that feel pointless or uncomfortable. Alcohol makes time pass faster and makes doing nothing feel more tolerable, but you’re basically erasing chunks of your existence because sitting still feels unbearable. When I was drunk all day every day I was ruining my life.
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It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety. If you quit drinking and experience any new or worsening mental health symptoms, please consider therapy. So, I remember when I quit drinking, my Coach said to me, what is it that you love more than wine? What would you get up at 5 in the morning to do that isn’t drinking, not that anyone got up at five in the morning to drink? I enjoyed a lot of things, but more than wine, an activity that I enjoyed more than the fuzzy buzzy feeling of drinking.
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You think of yourself as someone who enjoys wine, craft beer, or cocktails, so drinking when bored feels like expressing your identity rather than addressing a problem. Alcohol consumption has become so integrated into your sense of self that questioning it feels like questioning who you are. Notice when boredom drinking is really loneliness drinking, and consider reaching out to actual people instead. Building real social connections takes more effort than opening a bottle, but it addresses the underlying need more effectively.
Then when I quit drinking, I picked it back up again. Some of my clients have done this and they absolutely love it as sober treats. They bought themselves watercolor paints, Drug rehabilitation or beautiful crayons. They sit on their front porch, and they paint pictures and they learn.
You’re not just bored; you might be bummed about how unstimulating things have got. Start with short periods of unstructured time and see if you can gradually increase your tolerance for not having a plan. Most people discover that anxiety about empty time is worse than the actual experience of it. If you’re looking for a simple and creative way to enhance your hydration experience, infused water is the way to go.
The Dangers of Boredom When in Addiction Recovery
We’re relatively safe and our drunk and bored basic needs are met. So what happens when survival is no longer our focus? That’s how uncomfortable boredom and stillness can be. Most of us would literally rather zap ourselves with pain than sit quietly with our own thoughts.
- For example, if you use alcohol to relax at home in the evening, then you need to think about changing that routine.
- When referring to alcohol addiction, some may conjure up an image of a person consuming multiple daily bottles of low-end vodka and struggling to hold a steady job.
- Pay attention to women you admire, ask yourself, do I want what they have?
- If you’re in pain it is only natural to want to relieve or stop the physical pain.
Additionally, because alcohol can impair judgment and lower inhibitions, people who drink out of boredom may make unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as overeating or skipping exercise. This can contribute to weight gain, poor nutrition, and a decline in overall physical well-being. If you’re already dealing with weight or health issues, drinking to alleviate boredom will only exacerbate these https://www.pastimandiri.com/how-to-search-and-what-to-ask-navigator-niaaa/ problems.
- People often say they drink alcohol to “relieve boredom”.
- Like you’re not actually doing much of ANYTHING… except not drinking.
- Helping business-owners and professionals get control of their drinking.
- Overcoming boredom in addiction recoveryis not an easy task.
There are so many online communities that can support you while you step away from drinking, even if it’s temporarily. Talking with a trained therapist, especially one who understands substance abuse, is important. They can give you tools and resources for navigating everything you’re feeling (or not feeling) right now.
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