Originally from Northborough, Massachusetts, Mary has supported adults cycling through the legal system—often with co-occurring mental-health and substance-use concerns. Originally from Tokyo, Anna earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health from Denver Seminary in 2015. She brings a decade of experience across the full continuum of care—from medical detox through private practice, helping clients address substance use alongside trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders. Finding resources for ongoing drinking issues, even when simply drinking out of boredom, can make a world of difference. Catching signs of abuse early also minimizes the risks of adverse health effects and increases the probability of achieving sobriety much more quickly.
Alcohol Addiction and Drinking Problem
- There is space for that now, I know you don’t think there is but there is and there is money for it.
- And to actually be forced to think about things other than drinking that might possibly amuse you, might bring you joy, or occupy your time.
- Be deliberative, who you’re looking at, and what you’re watching.
- You can make simple syrups (here is a simple one to start with), use your soda maker, and add beautiful garnishes for the full treatment.
- And not only did Jardine Libaire and Amanda Eyre Ward were the authors contributing great ideas on this.
Counselors can help patients overcome alcohol addiction in healthy ways. Traditional therapy can help unpack any mental or emotional traumas that trigger the tendency to drink alone. Alcohol abuse can negatively impact your mental health.
Alcohol and Boredom: A Loop You Can Break
However, in our day, most of us don’t need to fight for food or shelter. If you really want to focus on health, Gordon suggests just trying to minimize how much you drink. “Ultimately, the healthiest approach is to keep consumption as low as possible, as there is no level of use that is considered entirely risk-free,” she says. If you have someone you trust, drunk and bored let them know if you are feeling down or lonely – so they know you won’t mind if they check in with you more often.
Identifying a Heroin Pipe: Risks, Signs, and Recovery
We lay out a blanket, I get my favorite cheese and crackers, I put music on my phone. And I just lay there quietly enjoying life, something I used to do in college, going to parks or around campus, but I never do anymore. I certainly never did, unless there was a beer or a glass of wine in my hand. When I was in very early sobriety, maybe 30 days in, 60 days, and I joined sort of a photo of the day contest.
Treatment plans are tailored to individual needs and may involve medical supervision during alcohol detox, counseling, and support through outpatient rehab or residential programs. Alcohol abuse poses serious risks to both physical and mental health, often leading to a range of harmful consequences. Prolonged excessive drinking can cause liver damage, heart disease, and increase the risk of certain cancers. Beyond the physical toll, alcohol abuse also impairs the nervous system, affecting judgment, coordination, and mood.
Life Without Alcohol: Will You Check Out or Show Up?
To unpack some of the underlying reasons you feel bored right now, it https://ecosoberhouse.com/ helps to understand what alcohol does to your brain. I’ve been where you are, as have thousands of other sober people who had to learn to have a life again after sobriety. Everyone playing takes turns saying “most likely” statements, such as “most likely to get famous,” “win the lottery,” “get scammed” etc.
Simply asking these questions might be enough to take the edge off the urge to drink. But if you end up drinking anyway, mindfulness also means forgiving yourself and learning from the experience. Hobbies occupy the mind and give you a sense of accomplishment. They improve your overall sense of well-being. Bored drinking might elevate your mood briefly, but it won’t ever match the satisfaction of mastering a hobby.
However, there’s a difference between having a couple of drinks with peers and solitary drinking. There is no hard and fast number, but there is some general guidance to consider. There are a few studies out there on the potential health impacts of avoiding alcohol, but what about alcoholism if you just cut back? An all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for some people, so it’s fair to wonder if you’d still be getting health perks by going this route. If you always have a bottle open when watching TV, then it quickly becomes a very hard habit to break.
In the past, I never would have wanted to give myself assignments. If someone else loves hiking, ask them to take you on a hike. Ask to join people on a bike ride, ask to go watch something that you would normally not go watch. Have someone else tell you what their passion is and get interested.
Use Emotional Regulation Skills
If boredom has been a major roadblock keeping you stuck in the drinking cycle, you are not alone. It is our mission to provide individuals with the education, tools, and support they need to attain a life lived to its fullest potential. We envision a world where addiction is powerless against strong families and communities founded on empathy, connection, and knowledge. I couldn’t drive home, I lost my phone, I shared someone else’s secret that I shouldn’t have shared.
Seeking treatment is never an easy step to take. The decision is often met with doubt, questioning if sobriety is attainable. It can also spark feelings of shame, guilt, and resentment.
