I could go back and re-read what I wrote and approach it from the perspective of an outside observer. Journaling allowed me to step outside of my emotions. I could pour my heart out and every irrational thought onto the pages. But I didn’t know what to do with them besides feel them. And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get. I over-identified with every negative feeling in my body.
How can I identify my boredom drinking triggers?
If this is the situation for you, then it might be time to reach out for professional help and get additional support in your recovery. Getting outdoors and exploring the natural world is a great way to break away from boredom. The key is to find something that you truly enjoy so it doesn’t feel like a chore.
Dangers of Alcohol Abuse
The problem is when you start creating habit loops that have you reaching for alcohol as a way to cope with boredom (or any uncomfortable emotion for that matter). The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
- Moreover, outpatient rehab can prove to be the most efficient and practical treatment plan for individuals struggling with drinking out of boredom.
- Boredom can indeed lead to cravings for alcohol, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
- Originally from Chino Hills, California, Chanel began her education at Gonzaga University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy.
- By connecting with others, you can find that you’re not alone in your struggles and get advice on how they cope with boredom.
- If the internet has shown us anything, it’s that neither matters.
New Jersey Rehabilitation Center: Transforming Lives Through Expert Care
Today as an adult, I still find myself feeling bored sometimes, but I have a different approach to boredom, and a different philosophy on what boredom is. If you drink to alleviate boredom, your brain starts associating alcohol with relief from that negative feeling. There’s a connection between consuming alcohol and boredom.
So drinking because you’re bored isn’t doing much for you in the long run. Instead, you should find ways to cope with your boredom that keep you productively occupied and are more fulfilling. I’ve spent the last seven years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. By becoming more involved in your community, you can effectively replace boredom drinking with meaningful connections and activities that improve your overall mental health and well-being.
You start to experience a reduction in reward sensitivity.
Because you were so busy working and socializing and improving your home and taking care of your kids and commuting and going to sports practices. There is space for that now, I know you don’t think there is but there is and there is money for it. If you look at the amount of money you spent drinking Twelve-step program alcohol, it’s amazing. Welcome to the Hello Someday Podcast, the podcast for busy women who are ready to drink less and live more.
Another woman on my call said that she had found during quarantine a local farm that did vegetable deliveries and also the freshest eggs she’s ever seen. Seen, and buckets and buckets of local flowers that are lush drinking out of boredom and gorgeous and beautiful and a total treat. But she can afford it because she’s not drinking. And she arranges the flowers, and she puts them in front of her house for neighbors to pick up as a little dope dose of joy for other people or leave them on their front stoops. She says that she enjoys arranging them and looking at them and smelling them. And when the vegetables show up, she suddenly has a ton of mushrooms.
Recently I spotted an interesting comment on my blog about feeling bored.
“It is critical that health professionals focus on those at risk of alcohol harm during any future restrictions, and devise strategies for supporting them during lockdown.” I just became sort of immune to it and realized, whoa, this is a lot. So it was time for me to pump the brakes and, you know, just– just get rid of it for a while.
