We instinctively reach for the smartphone, the remote…and, for many high-functioning drinkers, the bottle. Drinking alone regularly and excessively could be an early sign of alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you are aware that you have a problem with alcohol, there are several available treatment options and methods to help you. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a “nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical” program for alcoholics that’s global and available almost everywhere. Someone experiencing an alcohol overdose can faint and may choke on their vomit. It can be especially dangerous when drinking alone because no one is around to help them.

Bored Drinking: How to Defend Against the Sneakiest Trigger

I also got to listen to great music when I was jogging music that I hadn’t heard in years, I listened to songs from college and from high school. And it made me feel joy that I hadn’t felt in a really long time. And even though my pace was different from other people in my running club, I got to say hi to them, I got to be around them, I got to stretch with them. And that also filled me up with joy alcoholism treatment and connection with people whose life didn’t center around drinking. You need to figure out the cheese and crackers sitting in your favorite chair and reading a book. Because you had a glass of wine next to you?

Engage in Physical Exercise and Outdoor Activities:

It’s really common to attribute all ennui in sobriety to missing booze and thinking that the main way you (and everyone else) enjoy yourself is by getting wasted. I was worried about my commissions at work taking a hit when I got sober but they have tracked the same so far. But talking to people is just so much less entertaining. And as much as I want to, I’m not going to drink.

Practice mindful drinking.

Workaround managing and coping with those triggers by finding a different strategy that works best for you. Learning to identify the triggers to drinking is the first step towards preventing drinking out of boredom. By participating in therapy and counseling services, you can develop the skills and support necessary to overcome boredom drinking and maintain a healthier lifestyle. By engaging in these activities, you can effectively quit drinking, replace boredom drinking, and promote a healthier lifestyle in 2024.

Problems with attention are particularly relevant to the impacts of boredom at work or school. However, it is difficult to test whether a lack of attention causes boredom or is one of the effects of boredom. One of the sneakiest causes of boredom after cutting back on drinking is simply poor planning.

• While it doesn’t automatically indicate alcohol use disorder drinking out of boredom can expose users to the extensive list of short- and long-term health effects due to ongoing alcohol use.
• Psychologists call this deeper state existential boredom.
• I often think that the word being in recovery is misused.
• This might explain why, in such moments, we impulsively reach for distractions, like the remote or a social media scroll.
• I met them for the first time when I interviewed them on my podcast.

Healthy Lifestyle

• Problems with attention are particularly relevant to the impacts of boredom at work or school.
• She is a Brainspotting practitioner and is currently completing requirements toward the LPC.
• Catching signs of abuse early also minimizes the risks of adverse health effects and increases the probability of achieving sobriety much more quickly.
• Suddenly, the urge to find a distraction—any distraction—rushes in.
• For example, sometimes boredom feels like a need to do something more challenging but at other times we get bored if something is too demanding, such as a difficult lecture at university.
• Excessive drinking in dogs can be caused by various factors, including environmental conditions, dietary choices, boredom, medication side effects, or underlying health issues.

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. However, the drunk and bored variety of treatment options make it easier for individuals and families to focus on moderate consumption or complete abstinence.

• Do you walk around the block and phone a friend?
• I freaking fell asleep early and don’t remember the night.
• Spending time outside can be a great way to relieve stress and boredom.
• Now that you’re sober, you need to make things happen.
• And if you can’t think of what your interests are, right away, start following someone else’s passion.

Regardless, drinking alone can signify deeper psychological or emotional issues. It could even indicate signs of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires.

Jordan developed her clinical approach in various inpatient, hospital, outpatient, and private practice settings. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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. In 2023, Jordan joined the clinical team at AspenRidge Recovery.

It Impacts Mental Health

Break out an old game, book, or activity you enjoyed as a child (Pokémon or mini-golf, anyone?). Kick back and read a collection of poetry, and allow yourself to read slowly and reflect on the experience and meaning of each poem. Participate in a community cleanup and meet your neighbors. Here is a resource for our Los Angeles friends, but here is a handy guide to planning a cleanup no matter where you’re at. 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. Establish a daily meditation or mindfulness habit — you can schedule it for moments when you are particularly craving a cold one.