For many, the lure of alcohol is not just about the taste or the buzz—it’s about escaping uncomfortable emotions. Boredom is one such emotion, and it can be surprisingly challenging. When the mind is left unstimulated, it craves something to engage with. Alcohol offers a quick and easy solution, seemingly transforming a dull moment into something a bit more lively. However, this temporary fix masks the real issue rather than addressing it. When children or adolescents are spending too much time in front of the television (or screens of any kind) or listlessly whiling away hours, it may be time to step in.

• This consistent connection will help foster healthy relationships in recovery with people who can support you and what you’re going through in the present moment.
• Among your many options for New Year’s resolutions and fresh starts, dry January is a thing, which means a monthlong break from alcohol.
• Additionally, because alcohol can impair judgment and lower inhibitions, people who drink out of boredom may make unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as overeating or skipping exercise.

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• Surrounding yourself with people that support you can help alleviate possible remnants of guilt and shame from past behaviors.
• You might be retired or house-bound due to a medical condition or injury.
• You may believe you must hide your drinking from others, so you drink solo.
• Not exactly, but it can make you feel better, which has a ripple effect on whether or not you enjoy your life.

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.

Ever feel like half the reason you drink is out of boredom?

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. Specializing in Compulsive Hoarding and Behavior Addictions, Brionna guides clients towards healthier relationships and boundaries. Additionally, she is trained in Brainspotting, offering a unique approach to trauma-informed care. Learning healthy coping skills, unfortunately, is not as intuitive as it might seem.

Boredom: A Possible Road to Addiction

But when dopamine levels artificially spike (like what happens when we drink alcohol), that’s when trouble starts. Exercise is a powerful way to rebuild your body in recovery and a healthy coping skill. It’s a way to care for yourself by committing to a practice drinking out of boredom that releases positive, mood-enhancing endorphins and alleviates stress.

Reward yourself for not drinking when bored.

Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! Sitting in traffic, for instance, is one of those things that most people would rather forego. Other tasks like laundry and cleaning the house can cause boredom and be a source of anxiety.

Healthy Hobbies to Replace Drinking

If you’ve never tried mindfulness before, there are many resources available online to help you get started. You can read more about the mental benefits of mindfulness here. Drugs or alcohol can appear to take away the pain of emotional, mental, or physical challenges. Boredom is often simply a state of awareness that shows up just prior to the surfacing of difficult, painful thoughts and feelings we have pushed away from our conscious awareness. I’m currently at work, and super tempted to pick up some drinks right now. It’d be far from the first time I drank on the job, even though I know it’s not a good idea obviously.

And once you have a hangover, the only thing that will get you over it is time. I encourage anyone in recovery to be open, honest, and willing to do the work. Besides, it is all up to you to be the person you would like to become. If you need support in your journey, our team at Ria Health is always here to help you, and we’re only a call away. Often, it really comes down to being willing to do something that doesn’t entertain you or make you feel good immediately.