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. These stories remind us that boredom isn’t merely a state of inactivity or idleness — it can also be a time for reflection, creativity, and unexpected discovery. Understanding this connection is the first step towards breaking the cycle.
How To Manage Difficult Emotions In Early Sobriety
Many people say that they drink alcohol to manage anxiety – to numb it or take the edge off difficult feelings. The normalization and accessibility of alcohol certainly doesn’t help when you’re struggling to stay sober. This is especially true if you’re triggered by experiences like boredom or isolation.
After a few sips, the irritable boredom fades, replaced by a buzzing numbness. You exhale, “Now this feels better,” and conclude that the ad is right — a glass of wine is indeed the solution for boredom. In other words, it’s no surprise that many of us end up drinking out of boredom—we’re wired to avoid that restless, under-stimulated state. Like any other emotion, boredom isn’t inherently “bad” or “wrong.” All emotions serve a purpose; They’re signposts, pointing us toward something that needs our attention. No wonder so many of us will avoid boredom at all costs—through drinking, shopping, scrolling, or, when all else fails…self-administering mild electric shocks. Back in the day, our ancestors didn’t have time to be bored.
Hailing from Boulder County, Courtney embarked on her academic journey by earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She furthered her education by completing a master’s of science in clinical mental health counseling from Capella University. Additionally, Courtney obtained certificates in Alcohol and Drug Studies and is certified in Branspotting, a clinical treatment technique aiding individuals in processing trauma. Alcohol addiction rehab programs should address substance use as well as any underlying co-occurring mental health disorders. The most effective treatment provides access to ongoing therapy, skills training, group or peer support, relapse avoidance techniques, and prescribed medications, if necessary. Taking a personalized approach allows many families and individuals the chance to adjust treatment to best suit lifestyle, needs, and long-term goals.
I kept a notebook and pen beside my bed in case I woke up in the middle of the night with a brilliant song lyric or poem. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community. Your friends are out getting drunk, the same as they always do. 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. But it’s comforting to know that you don’t have figure it out on your own. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your doctor may even recommend medication to help treat depression and anxiety.
Support
Exercise is critically important in early sobriety and for ongoing mental health and wellness. It’s a great way to boost dopamine and endorphin levels naturally. What did you enjoy doing before drinking came around and took over your social life? If you must dig WAY back into childhood for this answer, then do that. Staying busy is a great way to stave off boredom and create space for healing the parts of your brain that took a walloping from drinking. It’s particularly therapeutic to find something to do with your hands.
How we react to the state of boredom is critical to our ongoing mental health, experts state. Whatever the reason for your boredom, drinking can create a negative cycle around it. So whether you are an absent-minded drinker or a lonely or anxious one, what can you do to prevent drinking out of boredom? Here are 5 tips to help you make changes to your drinking habits that could help you feel better, for good. Drinking because of boredom happens because home is where we feel safe, unjudged – it’s where we can relax.
- But at home, it’s easy to get a bit too comfortable… you can get a long way down a bottle when you are sitting in front of the TV half-watching some series to pass the time.
- 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.
- Those feelings don’t come back immediately when you quit.
- I still remember as a kid, if I was caught just sitting around doing nothing, my mom would say, “If you’re bored, I’ll give you something to do!
Alcohol and Boredom: A Loop You Can Break
Twice a week, straight to your inbox—helping you effortlessly drink less without sacrificing the joy of life. Boredom happens when your mind is under-stimulated or disconnected from meaning—and we’re wired, both biologically and culturally, to avoid it. In a society that prizes productivity and comfort, drinking can feel like a quick escape from that restless, “something’s wrong” feeling. If boredom has been a major roadblock keeping you stuck in the drinking cycle, you are not alone. However, in our day, most of us don’t need to fight for food or shelter.
If nothing else, it starts to chip away at any notion you might have that you’re unworthy. If you have the time, sign on to a longer-term project like helping with this year’s charity bake sale or the big 5K race your city holds yearly. You’ll get to meet new people and be a part of something positive. When I was finished, it was like someone had hit the refresh button on my brain. I could go back and re-read what I wrote and approach it from the perspective of an outside observer.
You can exit it, numb it, or engage with it—and only engagement builds the skills and resilience to break the boredom → drink → repeat loop for good. 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. Early sobriety is a critical period when community and support networks are critical.
- Despite its negative impacts, more Americans than ever consume alcohol regularly, especially women and minorities.
- So now comes the arduous task of learning how to manage the tough stuff without a chemical crutch like alcohol.
- Warning signs may include an inability to stop drinking, neglecting responsibilities, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking.
- 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.
- But it’s comforting to know that you don’t have figure it out on your own.
DANNY SAN FILIPPO – Clinical Director
In Criminal Justice/Psychology from Columbia University (2009) and a B.S. She brings 11 years of experience as a mental-health and substance-use nurse and is currently in the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Chamberlain (expected December 2026). Her clinical style is calm, collaborative, and evidence-informed, focused on supporting clients and care teams. 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.
However, the variety of treatment options make it easier for individuals and families to focus on moderate consumption or complete abstinence. Drinking out of boredom can reinforce negative feelings and self-medicate. When referring to alcohol addiction, some may conjure up an image of a person consuming multiple daily bottles of low-end vodka and struggling to hold a steady job.
Why Do I Crave Alcohol When I’m Bored
It’s why nothing seems fun or exciting, and you struggle to motivate yourself to have a good time. Outside of work, Brionna finds solace in arts and crafts, particularly crocheting and creative writing. She cherishes quiet moments with a good book, her two beloved cats, and the tranquility of nature’s walking trails. Describing her approach as eclectic, Darcie seamlessly combines person-centered and evidence-based practices. Drawing from her background in local improv groups, she infuses sessions with laughter and humor, fostering a non-judgmental space for clients. Darcie how to stop drinking out of boredom believes in collaborating with her clients, tailoring interventions to suit their individual needs.
What Is Boredom, Really? The Psychology Behind It
But I’m going to explore solutions for people who sit at various points along the “sobriety is so boring” spectrum. It’s not as simple as “getting out there” and “trying something new.” It’s hard to do that when you suffer from extreme depression and anhedonia. The very things you should be doing to feel better require a level of motivation you might not be able to fathom. My social circle changed when I got sober because I realized that many of my relationships were based on getting drunk together, and that was it.
