Before you know it, your list of things to celebrate when bored gets longer, and the number of drinks you enjoy each week goes up. There are plenty of situations where having a drink is a great way to celebrate an accomplishment. Unfortunately, problems can surface if you use “I deserve it” to justify bored drinking. Whether your sobriety has you wallowing drinking out of boredom in boredom or self-pity, please know that it will get better. Even if you have no idea HOW things can change, trust the process and keep working on it. Your doctor may even prescribe you supplements to correct vitamin deficiencies, which is why I always encourage them to visit their doctors and have an honest conversation about their alcohol consumption.

There’s a very fine line between social drinking and problematic drinking, and one could easily lead to the other and cause serious health implications. Most people drink in order to fill a void of some sort, e.g. an unhappy relationship, an unfulfilling job, loneliness or feeling bored with your daily routine. If you take alcohol away, but do nothing to change those other factors, you’re probably going to feel it. However, because it’s so common, we can fail to recognize the importance of addressing it. Boredom can cascade into serious issues like battling loneliness, uncovering deeply seeded shame and self-loathing, and even feelings of high stress can become prevalent.

Strategies for Overcoming Boredom Drinking

I could go back and re-read what I wrote and approach it from the perspective of an outside observer. Plus, you might meet some cool people, and that’s always a double win. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community. Don’t get down on yourself because you can’t get wasted at the bar with your friends anymore. And while these things might sound serious and scary, it’s important to note that it’s one piece of a larger puzzle.

  • It sounds over the top, but we know, when it comes to going alcohol-free winging it simply does not work.
  • Drinking out of boredom because you feel anxious is likely to make you feel worse because alcohol is a depressant, so if you are already feeling low, it makes those feelings more extreme.
  • But after noticing that he was feeling regularly low and fatigued, he decided it was time to cut down.
  • Recognizing and addressing personal triggers that lead to boredom drinking is crucial for maintaining a sober lifestyle.
  • This will help you regain control of your life and improve your overall mental health and well-being.

This is the part where you figure out how to enjoy life without a little something extra to help loosen you up. Feeling bored, sad, lonely, or anxious about something are all very human things to feel. By focusing on eating healthy, nourishing foods, you are actively working on reversing those symptoms.

Dry January: The Health Benefits From Taking A Break From Alcohol

It can also spark feelings of shame, guilt, and resentment. However, the variety of treatment options make it easier for individuals and families to focus on moderate consumption or complete abstinence. Some drink for pleasure or at social events, while others find themselves drinking for no reason at all.. Regardless of the intent, there are significant health implications that arguably make alcohol the most dangerous substance on the market. An estimated 15 million people throughout the U.S. struggle with alcohol use disorder, but only 10% receive treatment. Alcoholism profoundly affects the entire body, especially the brain, heart, pancreas, mouth, liver, and the immune system.

Use Sunnyside to track your drinks and better understand the connection between how much you drink and how you feel. Also, if you have that extra drink, Sunnyside lets you interact with others who struggle with bored drinking. The winter months often meet a halt to favorite outdoor activities. This shift in routine, coupled with earlier darkness and cold temperatures, can lead to SAD.

Find an alcohol-free drink you actually like

A drink or two while bored might make you too tired or too wary of driving to meet your friends. A sure sign of problematic bored drinking is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ failing to achieve hobby-related goals. Hobbies give you goals, and if you especially enjoy them, you’ll be motivated to reach these goals.

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. Our brains don’t like imbalance and will work very hard to correct it. That overcorrection is what you’re probably feeling right now.

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Here are 5 tips to help you make changes to your drinking habits that could help you feel better, for good. As with anxiety, COVID has seen rates of loneliness soar, as people have been forced apart for months, or have lost connections to friends or social groups. Many people admit to drinking out of boredom because they feel lonely. But self-medicating like this is not just bad for your body, but it is also likely to make your mental health worse. Drinking out of boredom because you feel anxious is likely to make you feel worse because alcohol is a depressant, so if you are already feeling low, it makes those feelings more extreme.

If nothing else, it starts to chip away at any notion you might have that you’re unworthy. Volunteer at the local Humane Society to walk dogs or pet cats. When I was finished, it was like someone had hit the refresh button on my brain.