This is particularly true if you’ve had a hard day at work or with the kids, and you are tired or stressed out. Soon it can seem weird NOT to have a glass in your hand, even if the rest of you is thinking about something else (or not thinking about very much at all). Boredom and stress are two emotions that can feel as if they are never going to leave. Valuing and prioritizing yourself in recovery can be a powerful way to remove the hold alcohol has on you. Always have a list of people that support your recovery available.
Why Do I Crave Alcohol When I’m Bored
Reducing alcohol intake may produce withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, shivering, high blood pressure, vomiting, fatigue, etc. Psychological symptoms like anxiety, restlessness, & anger outbursts, or irritability can be seen as an after-effect. If these problems persist, professional help may be needed. A Qualified mental health professional or psychiatrist can help and assist in managing these symptoms.
About 20% of Americans with an anxiety or mood disorder such as depression have an alcohol or other substance use disorder. Mental health needs as much attention as physical health, so if you are suffering, go and talk to your doctor. 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. If you want to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it makes sense to avoid busy bars and thirsty friends.
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. According to Medical News Today, the average adult in the United States experiences around 131 days of boredom per year.
- You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!).
- Additionally, she is trained in Brainspotting, offering a unique approach to trauma-informed care.
- The longer you stay away from alcohol and give your brain some much-needed TLC, the less you’ll feel like life is dull and uninteresting.
Sober and Bored? Here’s What To Do About It
Meet and connect with such people regularly and let them know when you are feeling down or lonely. Chanel describes herself as a humanistic therapist focused on building rapport and trust. She knows that when both of those are realized, they can accomplish each client’s unique goals together. She specializes in mood and personality disorders as they relate to addiction and is passionate about healing trauma by way of brainspotting and other trauma therapy methods. She has a goal to visit every state capitol and has been to 29 so far! If she won the lottery tomorrow, Chanel said she start a bookstore with a bakery inside for guests to enjoy their favorite books with an excellent coffee and dessert.
The longer you stay away from alcohol and give your brain some much-needed TLC, the less you’ll feel like life is dull and uninteresting. So it’s not that sobriety is inherently boring; it’s that your serotonin and dopamine levels are now very low. That latter experience feeling like everything is gray and dull and lacks meaning? I’ve been where you are, as have thousands of other sober people who had to learn to have a life again after sobriety.
And I’d be sent off to do chores I definitely didn’t want. Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!). You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings. Receive encouragement from people worldwide who know exactly what you’re going through!
Accept that you are in a transitional phase, which will take time.
Alcohol use disorder impacts millions across the nation, many of which are considered high-functioning. While it doesn’t automatically indicate alcohol use disorder drinking out of boredom can expose users to the extensive list of short- and long-term health effects due to ongoing alcohol use. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America says that alcohol and other substances can worsen anxiety symptoms.
How To Manage Difficult Emotions In Early Sobriety
Outside of her professional endeavors, Megan finds joy in the company of her partner and pets. She relishes spending time with friends, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and exploring the great outdoors during milder weather. Megan’s therapeutic approach is multifaceted, drawing from narrative, feminist, and existential therapy modalities. By employing these frameworks, Megan empowers her clients to confront their realities and comprehend the tangible impact of systemic factors on their lives. Her expertise encompasses group and individual work, with a particular focus on trauma.
- Understanding this wiring helps explain why the boredom → drink → repeat loop is so easy to fall into—and why breaking it requires learning new ways to sit with stillness.
- Early sobriety is a critical period when community and support networks are critical.
- This is especially true if you’re triggered by experiences like boredom or isolation.
- Many people admit to drinking out of boredom because they feel lonely.
- 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.
A U.S. Army veteran, Chandler began his clinical path working with at-risk youth and completed formal addiction-counseling training before moving into individual and group therapy. Before AspenRidge, he was a clinical-psychologist intern while progressing toward his doctorate. Originally from Tokyo, Anna earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from Denver Seminary in 2015. Have you ever found yourself pouring a drink not to celebrate, but simply because there’s nothing else to do? In fact, boredom has been linked to anxiety, depression, and even addiction. During the pandemic, this issue became even more apparent, with alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants surging by 24% as people sought ways to escape the monotony of life at home.
When you use alcohol (or any substance) to artificially boost serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain, you create an imbalance in the brain. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness. It is also responsible for regulating movement and emotional response. Dopamine depletion can cause apathy, boredom, and lack of motivation. Outside AspenRidge, Jordan enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and playing volleyball and soccer. She believes she was probably a rodeo queen in another life and recharges by spending time with friends and family.
The Sober Curiosity Micro-Dose
Nate Denning is the Lead Admission Representative at AspenRidge Recovery. Before moving to AspenRidge, Nate served as operations director at a local organization that has sober living homes throughout the Denver area. When he’s not working, Nate enjoys horticulture and is very active in Denver’s recovery community. 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 how to stop drinking out of boredom is connected to over 60 different cancers and diseases.
Originally from Chino Hills, California, Chanel began her education at Gonzaga University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. She continued her education at the University of Denver and earned a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Chanel completed internships at AspenRidge during her studies and eventually joined the team as a full-time primary clinician.
If she won the lottery tomorrow, Jill would create a pet sanctuary where the community would unite. A Denver native and lifelong Colorado resident, Megan embarked on her academic journey at the University of Northern Colorado. There, she earned dual bachelor’s degrees before pursuing a master’s degree in psychology. During her academic years, she dedicated herself to assisting refugees fleeing war and violence in their home countries. Kayla earned a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University (August 2024) and completed Brainspotting Phase 1. She draws on DBT, CBT, Brainspotting, solution-focused work, and motivational interviewing—tailored to the person, not the label.