Dry January: The Health Benefits From Taking A Break From Alcohol : NPR

The longer you rely on alcohol to deal with boredom, the less capable you are of getting fulfillment out of healthier coping mechanisms like hobbies or exercise. The problem is when you start creating habit loops that have you reaching for alcohol as a way to cope with boredom (or any uncomfortable emotion for that matter). To understand why https://theillinois.news/top-5-advantages-of-staying-in-a-sober-living-house/ can be so risky, it’s worth taking time to understand the role of dopamine in how we behave and make decisions. Warren is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who specializes in substance abuse and mental health treatment. Clinically, Warren has developed a therapeutic skillset that utilizes a strengths-based perspective, Twelve Step philosophies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Eating well, staying hydrated, getting physical activity, and not stocking up on alcohol for the winter are other helpful strategies to stop drinking out of boredom.

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  • It’s even harder if your loved ones don’t support your sobriety.
  • Mindful eating is useful in differentiating between boredom and hunger, as it emphasizes paying close attention to your cravings and hunger and fullness cues.
  • It’s very common for people, especially those with additional mental health issues like depression and anxiety, to drink out of boredom.
  • There are many reasons for this, from previous patterns of alcohol use to brain chemistry.

In fact, boredom is a genuine emotion, akin to happiness or sadness. When this emotion surfaces, it reveals our disconnection or lack of interest in our surroundings or activities. It searches for a spark, something to stimulate and captivate us.

drinking out of boredom

Emotional Triggers for Boredom Drinking

The horrible irony to all of this is that alcohol amplifies loneliness. It sounds over the top, but we know, when it comes to going alcohol-free winging it simply does not work. You have to plan like an athlete and expect the unexpected. Bored drinking is a surefire way for sneaky calories to throw off your weight-loss goals. Even when COVID lockdowns ended, we found in the same survey that 17% of respondents who worked from home were more likely to be excessive drinkers. For those who didn’t work from home, only 12% were prone to excessive drinking.

  • Drinking out of boredom because you feel anxious is likely to make you feel worse because alcohol is a depressant, so if you are already feeling low, it makes those feelings more extreme.
  • Anything to change up that routine of drinking out of boredom and make it harder for drinkers to find a place to get comfortable.
  • Various factors lead individuals to abuse alcohol, including genetic traits, environmental reasons, and societal factors.

Recently I spotted an interesting comment on my blog about feeling bored.

drinking out of boredom

Some studies have found mindfulness is particularly helpful at helping people reduce eating in response to emotions like boredom (24, 25, 26). Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between hunger Top 5 Advantages of Staying in a Sober Living House and boredom. So I think the very first step here is to simply assess your relationship with alcohol. You know, write down these things in a journal or just in the memo section of your phone.

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  • If you tend to crave or reach for certain foods when you’re bored, you might be tempted to completely stop eating those foods to remove the temptation.
  • But the thing is, drinking out of boredom is a type of drinking that can quickly spiral out of control if you aren’t careful.
  • Then we’ll show you how to better manage boredom and avoid unhealthy drinking patterns.
  • Ocassationally, there may still be times when you reach for a snack when you’re bored.
  • 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.
  • In more severe cases, drinking out of boredom can lead to severe alcohol abuse disorders.

Understanding the Link Between Boredom and Drinking

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