While it may provide temporary relief, the long-term effects are far more damaging. The cycle of drinking to fill time leads to mental, emotional, and physical challenges that can be hard to reverse. Thank you for listening to this episode of The Hello Someday Podcast. If you’re interested in learning more about me or the work I do or accessing free resources and guides to help you build a life you love without alcohol, please visit hellosomedaycoaching.com. And I would be so grateful if you would take a few minutes to https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ rate and review this podcast so that more women can find it and join the conversation about drinking less and living more. And again, it was something that I’d never done.
You’re prone to seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
As someone who existed in this headspace for years, I completely sympathize with how hard it is to break out of this rut, which is why this next part is so important. When that’s the case, it’s a sign of deeper problems that need solving. And when I tried to hang out with people without alcohol, I struggled mightily. The brain has essentially been rewired to find these natural rewards less appealing compared to the artificial high from alcohol. If this topic interests you, I highly recommend listening to this interview with Dr. Anna Lembke, the author of the best-selling book “Dopamine Nation” (also recommend reading). But, much like dopamine, alcohol disrupts and inhibits the production of GABA in our body.
Why do I drink alcohol out of boredom?
Don’t get down on yourself because you can’t get wasted at the bar with your friends anymore. And while these things might sound serious and scary, it’s important to note that it’s one piece of a larger puzzle. 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. Getting drunk did not magically change the dynamics of that situation. We were all just sitting around and getting drunk, perfectly content to not really do anything together.
- Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain, essentially acting like a “feel-good” signal.
- A lot of people experience anhedonia when they quit.
- While the holidays are indulgent, there’s also plenty of downtime (hint, hint) for learning how to deflect urges to drink.
- Drinking out of boredom may indicate a deeper issue at hand.
- Our brain starts needing more and more alcohol to experience the same level of reward or pleasure, resulting in increased alcohol consumption.
Emotional Triggers for Boredom Drinking
Join our next free coaching session with the Stop Drinking Expert and unlock the secret to lasting sobriety without the struggle. Sober House Rules: What You Should Know Before Moving In If you haven’t read the Sober Lush, go ahead and pick it up. Or someone said even listening to it on audiobook was even better, because the stories are so rich and descriptive, and also short so you can listen to them in snippets. But just giving you ideas of what you can do, and picking out an assignment that you want to try.
Emotional Effects of Alcohol: Why Drinking Makes You Unstable
It resonated with me because there was a time in my life when I was doing the same thing. Every month, we launch fun challenges, like Dry/Damp January, Mental Health May, and Outdoorsy June. You won’t want to miss out on the chance to participate alongside fellow Reframers (or solo if that’s more your thing!). You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings.
Many individuals turn to alcohol to alleviate boredom, which can quickly spiral into addiction and cause significant health problems. Luxury rehab centers offer a unique and effective approach to managing boredom-related drinking and achieving long-term sobriety. Do you find yourself reaching for a drink when boredom strikes?
Problems Caused by Drinking Out of Boredom
If you want to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it makes sense to avoid busy bars and thirsty friends. But many of us should because millions of us resort to drinking out of boredom whilst relaxing at home. By removing the alcohol and making those necessary lifestyle changes, we increase the chances of becoming people who can enjoy the simple pleasure of life once again.
Yet, no matter how much pain it causes to the individual or family, alcohol is one of the most difficult substances to remove. Regularly consuming alcohol when you’re bored has both short-term and long-term effects on your health, even if it doesn’t lead to a drinking disorder. If you are still in the flirtation stage of drinking out of boredom, it’s a great time to intervene and make a concerted effort to handle boredom in healthier ways.
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! Even when consumed in smaller quantities, alcohol can have short- and long-term effects. Also know what you are going to drink and select from alcohol alternatives. Bars are more frequently providing alcohol-free beverages to help encourage safe drinking habits and reduce risks of accidents caused by driving while intoxicated. Always have a backup soft drink just in case you reach the bar and they are out of stock.
It Impairs Physical Health
- You can go to a lake and watch your kids splashing around and actually get in the water and splash around with them.
- Our brain also becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol and starts to see it as the “new normal.” So when there’s no alcohol, things seem a bit off.
- Getting drunk did not magically change the dynamics of that situation.
- This cycle can lead to unhealthy consumption patterns when feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
- Thank you for listening to this episode of The Hello Someday Podcast.
This is probably new for your friends and family, too. Don’t be afraid to communicate how you’re feeling. When I quit drinking, I was lucky to have a spouse that supported my decision.
And the reason is that when I was drinking, I was literally recovering. Every single day of my life, I was recovering from a headache, hangover and watery eyes, and just trying to get through the day. Anything to change up that routine of drinking out of boredom and make it harder for drinkers to find a place to get comfortable. Volunteering is a great way to reconnect with your community.
If I go there at 11am or 2pm, and spend an hour, then I’ve done something, then I’ve seen something that I’m more amused and happy to settle down at the end of the evening and not feel bored. You need to figure out the cheese and crackers sitting in your favorite chair and reading a book. Or is it just fun and fulfilling and it makes you happy without the wine? And that’s what it’s like, when we take away our wine, Right? We’re like, there’s nothing to do if we’re not drinking.
It can also spark feelings of shame, guilt, and resentment. However, the variety of treatment options make it easier for individuals and families to focus on moderate consumption or complete abstinence. An estimated 15 million people throughout the U.S. struggle with alcohol use disorder, but only 10% receive treatment. Alcoholism profoundly affects the entire body, especially the brain, heart, pancreas, mouth, liver, and the immune system. Despite its negative impacts, more Americans than ever consume alcohol regularly, especially women and minorities.
All the same, “a quick drink” often turns into three or four drinks. When you’re having a good time, you find it hard to stop, especially in the company of friends having the same amount. Swapping our routines and habits that are damaging you for ones that can strengthen your body and soul will give you a really clear reason why you want to stop drinking out of boredom. When you don’t feel you have anyone to talk to or anywhere to go, drinks can feel like a constant, a friend.
You slowly transform into someone who can’t have fun or feel happy without alcohol. Chronic alcohol use can also affect the brain regions responsible for regulating mood and stress. This, in turn, makes you feel more bored more frequently, which reinforces the desire to drink, and round and round you go. When you drink, it floods your brain with an artificially high amount of dopamine. Chronic alcohol use can dull the brain’s dopamine response. This is your brain’s way of trying to restore balance.