The hidden downside of using alcohol to cope with situational boredom is that it often keeps us stuck—tolerating situations we might otherwise exit, transform, or outgrow. Many people I’ve worked with say that learning to say “no” gracefully is one of the most empowering skills of their alcohol-free journey. That’s why we have dedicated a lesson specifically to the skill of saying no.
Why Teens Drink and Experiment with Drugs – Partnership to End Addiction
How we react to the state of boredom is critical to our ongoing mental health, experts state. Moderate alcohol consumption has the potential to enliven social situations. But when you add bored drinks to social drinking, alcohol has the opposite effect.
Kathleen was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, but spent half of her life in California. She holds a master’s in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. Additionally, she has a master’s in holistic wellness and is trained in EMDR therapy for both in-person and virtual settings. Kathleen has more than 15 years of experience treating people who have a substance use disorder. Hi, I’m Jessa Glover, the creator of this blog dedicated to helping people overcome addiction and reclaim their lives.
- But if you consume alcohol, these signs might indicate that boredom is a drinking trigger.
- Situational boredom is part of life, but it doesn’t have to send you straight to the bottle.
- Danny ensures he has as many techniques as possible to help people improve their well-being and achieve their goals.
- She specializes in mood and personality disorders as they relate to addiction and is passionate about healing trauma by way of brainspotting and other trauma therapy methods.
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But the truth is, most of life is ordinary, with brief moments of joy and surprise in between.In fact, it’s the ordinary that makes those moments of excitement feel so exhilarating. I did math, even if we live to 90, that’s just 32,872 days on Earth. It’s made of small moments—including the mundane, repetitive ones. Avoiding boredom isn’t always possible, but changing how you respond to it is.
Get Bite-Sized Support: Free Sober Curiosity Micro-Dose Emails
While it once pushed our ancestors toward survival and purpose, today it often drives us toward quick fixes like alcohol. When we see boredom as a cue to seek real engagement rather than numbness, we open the door to healthier, more fulfilling choices. I’ll be exploring that in a future piece, but for now, let’s stay focused on the more everyday boredom that shows up during chores, traffic, and those painfully slow moments of life. And take a closer look at if reaching for the bottle is really the answer we want.
Use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify triggers.
In this article, we’ll unpack bored drinking and help you figure out whether boredom is a drinking trigger. Then we’ll show you how to better manage boredom and avoid unhealthy drinking patterns. If you’ve found yourself noticing, “It seems that I drink because I’m bored and lonely,” the answer lies in our brain’s reward system. Understanding this relationship between boredom and alcohol is crucial for breaking an unhealthy cycle of drinking out of boredom and finding more fulfilling ways to spend our time. If you have been using alcohol to cope with boredom for a while, you may even find yourself starting to drink preemptively before boredom hits. Over time, it can dramatically diminish our tolerance to boredom, and our brain starts needing that loop to get through anything tedious at all.
It’s almost as if life itself is inviting us to embrace difficulty—not as punishment but as a design feature. If boredom has been a major roadblock keeping you stuck in the drinking cycle, you are not alone. Courtney’s professional experience in substance use treatment began in a holistic residential treatment center. Since then, she has worked across various settings including outpatient, inpatient, and community corrections programs. Outside of her professional endeavors, Megan finds joy in the company of her partner and pets. She relishes spending time with friends, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and exploring the great outdoors during milder weather.
- Megan’s therapeutic approach is multifaceted, drawing from narrative, feminist, and existential therapy modalities.
- Drawing from her background in local improv groups, she infuses sessions with laughter and humor, fostering a non-judgmental space for clients.
- After graduating, Karlie gained experience working in a residential program for eating disorders and a private practice before joining the AspenRidge team.
- She is a trauma-informed clinician who prioritizes the relationship between clinician and client.
- From a cultural perspective, boredom doesn’t just feel uncomfortable—it feels wrong.
- Twice a week, straight to your inbox—helping you effortlessly drink less without sacrificing the joy of life.
#2. Why We Numb: The Hidden Cost of Distracting from Boredom
Finding resources for ongoing drinking issues, even when simply drinking out of boredom, can make a world im bored .. and drinking gives me something to do. 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. Some drink for pleasure or at social events, while others find themselves drinking for no reason at all..
It signals a feeling of satisfaction, pleasure, or reward, encouraging us to repeat the behavior that led to this good feeling. But remember that, scientifically, boredom is an emotion — just like appiness or sadness. It typically occurs when we find ourselves disengaged from what’s going on around us or when there’s a lack of interest or enjoyment in our activities. I’m 30 hours in and have realised that boredom is a primary trigger for me. I’m finding it really difficult and really missing the warm little buzz of the first sip.
Healthy Hobbies to Replace Drinking
Drinking out of boredom can reinforce negative feelings and self-medicate. Self-medicating can drastically impact overall health and well-being. Not only this, self-medicating can lead to and exacerbate mental health conditions leading to a dual diagnosis condition. Meanwhile, you’re at home wondering how many days it would take someone to find your body after you’ve choked on those peanut M&M’s you’ve been knocking back during your latest Netflix binge. Remember, it’s not that sobriety is terrible, but that your brain is trying to grapple with the sudden loss of dopamine.
Why Drinking Feels Like It Works—At First
Sunnyside is the leading alcohol health platform focused on moderation and mindfulness, not sobriety. On average, members see a 30% reduction in alcohol consumption in 3 months, leading to improved sleep, diet, and overall wellbeing. One of the best opportunities to practice mindful drinking is Dry January.
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. This subreddit is a place to motivate each other to control or stop drinking. We welcome anyone who wishes to join in by asking for support, sharing our experiences and stories, or just encouraging someone who is trying to quit. Please post only when sober; you’re welcome to read in the meanwhile. There’s a modern myth that life is supposed to be fun and exciting all the time.