Drinking When Bored? What It Could Mean Addiction Treatment

Alcohol’s reinforcing effects can be attributed to the way cortisol interacts with the brain’s reward system, causing a person to feel pleasure and therefore reach for more of it when stressed. By seeking professional help, you can find resources to stop drinking and address ongoing issues that can make a huge difference in your recovery. This proactive approach will empower you to break the cycle of loneliness, addiction, and more loneliness, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life in the present moment. Our addiction specialists are here to help 24/7.

Focus on eating nutritious food.

• If you find yourself bored without alcohol or drinking simply because you’re bored, you might be developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
• If you know you will feel lonely or down, try and plan some interactions to reduce those feelings and your reliance on alcohol.

Valuing and prioritizing yourself in recovery can be a powerful way to remove the hold alcohol has on you. Unstructured time leads to unpredictable behaviors, which are problematic in recovery. Bored drinking can sneakily become an unhealthy habit, and it’s not always easy to curb it on your own. Alcohol is probably not the only indulgence in your life. 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. As part of your daily “boredom prevention plan,” schedule a reward for not drinking when you otherwise would.

#5 Stay Physically Active

I resisted, and have managed to reject the impulse to booze so far. But with no definite end to the lockdown in sight, I think it will be an uphill battle. It can have long-term health consequences, including liver damage, cardiovascular problems, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorder. Talking with a trained therapist, especially one who understands substance abuse, is important.

Sober Fun With Friends

If you do it right, keeping a food journal can help you see what, when, where, and how much you are overeating. The right way is to write down the type and amount of food you eat, as well as the location and time. That way, you may drinking because of boredom be able to identify an eating style that needs correction. As someone who existed in this headspace for years, I completely sympathize with how hard it is to break out of this rut, which is why this next part is so important.

• By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage boredom and negative emotions without turning to alcohol, improving your overall mental health and well-being.
• 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.
• Through coaching others, I have found that making time for important activities is one of the big bottlenecks.
• If our body perceives a harmless situation as dangerous, we start to experience increased levels of stress and anxiety.

And the thing about alcohol is that it is way more efficient and reliable at creating this effect than natural rewards like having fun with friends or eating a delicious meal. You decide to crack open a bottle of wine and scroll on your phone, maybe message some people you haven’t spoken to in a while, just passing the time. If you always have a bottle open when watching TV, then it quickly becomes a very hard habit to break.

It doesn’t help that although alcohol may be the world’s most commonly accepted drug, it’s also regularly left off the list of drugs that negatively impact people’s lives. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death behind tobacco and obesity, yet its impact is often minimized by those directly affected by it, and it continues to be widely accepted in our culture. When you’re triggered by experiences like boredom or isolation, the accessibility of alcohol makes it that much harder to refrain from drinking to cope with these difficult feelings.

How Long Does Alcohol Bloating Last? Timeline + Tips

Why is binge drinking dangerous?

• Boredom can unexpectedly become a cue for sensation-seeking behavior.
• So drinking because you’re bored isn’t doing much for you in the long run.
• Dinner parties, live shows, and organized sports are all great ways to have sober fun with friends.
• Take control of the aspects of your life that you have some influence over and watch the world change around you.