Footprints to Recovery offers alcohol addiction treatment that’s evidence-based and personalized to your drinking out of boredom clinical needs, preferences, and life situation. We don’t just treat the symptoms of addiction; we address underlying issues like co-occurring mental health conditions and trauma that perpetuate substance use. We’ll also teach you healthy coping skills that support long-term abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Studies have shown that easily bored people are at higher risk of anxiety, depression, drug addiction, alcohol misuse, anger, and a number of other issues.
Boredom Drinking Alcohol Abuse Rehab Programs
- Even after the initial stages of recovery, you must continue to grow and change to maintain your sobriety.
- Outside of her professional endeavors, Megan finds joy in the company of her partner and pets.
- Regular exercise is an excellent way to reduce boredom and boost your mental health.
- The best piece of advice she’s ever heard is to never take advice from someone who does not have what you are seeking.
This shift in routine, coupled with earlier darkness and cold temperatures, can lead to SAD. Bored drinking takes place when people reach for alcohol to kill time, simply because they have nothing else to occupy their minds. Facing your unhappy thoughts can be overwhelming, and it’s natural to need a break or a distraction from time to time.
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With dedication and determination, a happy and successful sobriety is within reach. When drinking and using drugs become the focus of your social life, it can be difficult to find other enjoyable activities. This means you may experience feelings of boredom, apathy, and low motivation for some time in early sobriety. It’s important to remember that boredom is a normal part of recovery, and with the right coping strategies in place, you can get through it without resorting to drinking or using drugs.
Keep a List of Supportive Contacts
Connecting with others in recovery can provide you with a sense of camaraderie, understanding, and accountability. In addition, you can also connect with others in recovery through online communities or social media groups. When you surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your goals, you can feel less alone and more motivated to stay sober. These effects can be very short-lived, but in the long term, they can cause real mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
- Regular exercise also improves overall well-being, increases energy levels, and helps regulate sleep patterns.
- Simply asking these questions might be enough to take the edge off the urge to drink.
- By taking the time to explore new activities, you can open yourself up to the possibility of finding a meaningful and fulfilling sober life.
- Self-medicating with substances instead of other cures for boredom is a quick recipe for addiction.
- Boredom can also lead to complacency, as you may begin to take your sobriety for granted and believe that you are no longer at risk of relapse.
- When you first stop drinking, it’s normal to experience what is known as serotonin and dopamine depletion.
- If you start drinking beyond this limit, your body will need more time to process it.
How to Talk About Fantasy Without Feeling Embarrassed or Awkward
- However, how much alcohol you consume alcohol and how often can be worrying.
- Once your downtime ends, and you’ve made progress on your hobby or taken a walk, enjoy a piece of chocolate before your next activity.
The brain starts to signal the craving for alcohol, not just to seek pleasure but also to restore what it perceives as normalcy. When was the last time you felt utterly, stupefyingly, mind-numbingly bored? It might’ve been when you languished in the waiting room at a doctor’s office for 10 minutes too long. Perhaps it was on a never-ending drive wherein your toddler insisted on hearing the same song over and over and over again. Maybe you are exceedingly bored right now (in which case, I’m sorry, and I hope to recapture your attention). We provide a biopsychosocial assessment for treatment before recommending any program or plan of action.
AspenRidge Recovery Treatment Programs
Many people say that they drink alcohol to manage anxiety – to numb it or take the edge off difficult feelings. Spending time with people who support your sobriety can prevent feelings of isolation and boredom. Whether it’s through a support group, a sober community, or just spending quality time with friends and family, these connections can help you stay grounded and engaged.
Tip 4: Reach out to others
She has worked in behavioral health since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2019. Jordan developed her clinical approach in various inpatient, hospital, outpatient, and private practice settings. Jordan continued her studies and earned a master’s in clinical and mental health counseling.
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