Whatever your goals, it’s the struggle to get there that’s most rewarding. It’s almost as if life itself is inviting us to embrace difficulty—not as punishment but as a design feature. One could argue that boredom may well be responsible for some of the greatest works of art, literature, and invention in human history. And boredom can become the empty space where that question echoes the loudest. 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!
Eliminate alcohol from your living space
If Danny won the lottery, he’d start a tech company focusing on deep learning to support people in coping strategies. Originally from New Orleans, Meghan earned her master’s degree from Arizona State University (2021) and became a Licensed Addiction Counselor in 2024. She is a Brainspotting practitioner and is currently completing requirements toward the LPC. Meghan has worked six years in residential settings, including five years serving pregnant women and mothers with children and one year in acute psychiatric residential care. She specializes in supporting adults navigating addiction, trauma, and mood disorders.
- Not only this, self-medicating can lead to and exacerbate mental health conditions leading to a dual diagnosis condition.
- 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.
- If these problems persist, professional help may be needed.
- Beyond the physical toll, alcohol abuse also impairs the nervous system, affecting judgment, coordination, and mood.
- Workaround managing and coping with those triggers by finding a different strategy that works best for you.
Additional resources to fight boredom in sobriety:
In response, some people seek outlets that are detrimental to their well-being. Drinking out of boredom is common, especially among those suffering from other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. If you know you will feel lonely or down, try and plan some interactions to reduce those feelings and your reliance on alcohol. As with anxiety, COVID has seen rates of loneliness soar, as people have been forced apart for months, or have lost connections to friends or social groups.
Our brains don’t like imbalance and will work very hard to correct it. That overcorrection is what you’re probably feeling right now. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of happiness, well-being, and pleasure.
KARLIE ROSHONG – Clinical Manager
- Many people underestimate the seriousness of these signs or fear stigma, which can delay getting help.
- After a few sips, the irritable boredom fades, replaced by a buzzing numbness.
- Her journey began with crisis intervention for families, evolving into roles in community counseling, corrections, and residential facilities.
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.
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.
This Study Shows People Would Rather Get Shocked Than Be Bored
Specializing in diverse mental health challenges, including depression, addiction, and trauma, Christy embraces a person-centered approach. She tailors interventions to individual needs, drawing from modalities like mindfulness, DBT, CBT, and EMDR. Some drink for pleasure or at social events, while others find themselves drinking for no reason at all.. Regardless of the intent, there are significant health implications that arguably make alcohol the most dangerous substance on the market.
Boredom can indeed lead to cravings for alcohol, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With understanding and a few targeted strategies, you can retrain your brain to seek healthier, more fulfilling ways to escape boredom. So, when we’re bored and our brain is looking for that dopamine hit, it can often recall that alcohol was a past source of reward.
We perform our jobs to earn money, use that money to escape on vacations, and then rise and repeat through the same loop again. And when the void creeps in, drinking becomes the easiest escape. If you’re like most people I work with, you may have been told that changing your relationship with alcohol is simply about “just drinking less.” But that’s misguided advice.
The Boredom Drinking Loop
That leaves us with the other 60–70% of boredom—the kind that sticks around even after we’ve quit drinking, and can lead to relapse if we don’t know how to handle it. Believe it or not, in my experience, up to 30–40% of situational boredom can actually be avoided or reduced. Opting out is an underrated and underutilized option—especially for high-functioning people who are used to pushing through. If existential boredom is about a lack of meaning, then situational boredom is about a lack of stimulation.
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.
Why Remembering the Good Times is Bad For Your Sobriety
Understanding when to seek treatment for alcohol abuse is crucial. Warning signs may include an inability to stop drinking, neglecting responsibilities, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Many people underestimate the seriousness of these signs or fear stigma, which can delay getting help.
Boredom Drinking: A Major Roadblock to an Alcohol-Free Life
In her time here, Karlie trained as a clinical supervisor and an Acudetox therapist. She has a passion for working with clients to help them develop a more profound sense of identity to navigate depressive and anxious symptoms. She’s passionate about working with clients to work through trauma and improve mental stability. In her personal life, Karlie likes reading sci-fi and fantasy and going to Marvel movies. She enjoys playing board games and having home karaoke nights with her friends.
However, because it’s so common, we can fail to recognize the importance of addressing it. Boredom can cascade into serious issues like battling loneliness, uncovering deeply seeded shame and self-loathing, and even feelings of high stress can become prevalent. Drinking out of boredom is how some choose to deal with the dull moments life throws how to stop drinking out of boredom at us. While boredom is to be expected and is nothing unusual, some individuals equate boredom with lack of productivity and negative connotations.