If you do drink, do everything in your power to avoid a heavy binge. This is where it becomes essential to think of the progress you made. Many younger people are redefining what it means to have fun without the need for alcohol. For younger generations, meaningful social experiences are less about following traditional scripts and more about creating inclusive and intentional environments. Influencers and campaigns like #SoberLife and #SobrietyJourney promoting sober lifestyles have further normalized and celebrated alcohol-free living. One of the most significant cultural changes among younger generations is the reduced stigma around mental health.
Identifying Your Boredom Drinking Triggers
- The pandemic has been here and, at the time of this writing, is continuing to keep our world in a state of flux.
- What did you enjoy doing before drinking came around and took over your social life?
- It clears my head, let’s me think, presents answers to questions that would never come when I’m sat at my desk.
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. At the moment, bored drinking might not have a negative impact on your work or family life. If you start noticing these side effects, it’s time to re-evaluate how you deal with boredom.
Valuing and prioritizing yourself in recovery can be a powerful way to remove the hold alcohol has on you. If you always have a bottle open when watching TV, then it quickly becomes a very hard habit to break. 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). Drinking because of boredom happens because home is where we feel safe, unjudged – it’s where we can relax.
Originally from Nashville, TN, Jordan moved to Colorado with her family at age five. 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. Between post-graduate work and additional training courses, she honed her skills in treating first responders and military personnel from a trauma-informed perspective.
The NIAAA tells you the mathematical difference between drinking in moderation, binge drinking, and heavy alcohol use. We’re a ticking time bomb, and with each passing hour and sip of alcohol, the timer gets closer to zero. When operating on fear alone, the focus is on avoiding the consequences rather than maximizing the benefits.
Warren is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who specializes in substance abuse and mental health treatment. Clinically, Warren has developed a therapeutic skillset that utilizes a strengths-based perspective, Twelve Step philosophies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. This cycle can lead to unhealthy consumption patterns when feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
Being Bored When You’re Quitting Drinking
While the holidays are indulgent, there’s also plenty of downtime (hint, hint) for learning how to deflect urges to drink. And to stay motivated, take a moment to jot down in a journal how you feel after making progress in your hobby. When boredom strikes and you find it more difficult to muster the motivation to work on your hobby, read these journal entries. That reminder of how good you’ll feel should keep you from heading to the fridge. For example, CBT might help you realize you look at boredom in a negative light. You might believe you should always be doing something useful or constructive, so you reach for a drink to calm the negative emotions boredom creates.
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Drinking to combat boredom can be problematic, but you can prevent long-term consequences if you identify it early. Many people use alcoholic beverages to enhance experiences. Drinking at concerts, sporting events, and dinner can, as one casual drinker put it, transform a situation into a moment. The problem is that overindulgence or even regular drinking is known to cause a number of health issues. Alcohol is drinking when bored one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States.
By building a strong support network, you can access the encouragement and guidance you need to stay sober and successfully overcome boredom drinking. By exploring new hobbies and interests, you can effectively replace boredom drinking with more fulfilling and enjoyable activities. The average adult experiences around 131 days of boredom per year, so how you react to this boredom is critical to your mental health. If you justify to yourself, “I drink when I’m bored,” it can quickly lead to overindulgence and health concerns. If you’re a casual drinker, you should understand the ramifications of regular drinking.
This is important to remember when thinking about boredom. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol. 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!
It is also responsible for regulating movement and emotional response. Dopamine depletion can cause apathy, boredom, and lack of motivation. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of happiness, well-being, and pleasure.