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Despite its negative impacts, more Americans than ever consume alcohol regularly, especially women and minorities. 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 at us.
At the extreme, heavy drinking can contribute to domestic violence and child abuse or neglect. Alcohol use is often involved when people become violent, drinking out of boredom as well as when they are violently attacked. If you feel that alcohol is endangering you or someone else, call 911 or obtain similar help right away.
How To Stop Being Bored After Stopping Drinking
As you grow older, health problems or prescribed medicines may require that you drink less alcohol or avoid it completely. You may also notice that your body’s reaction to alcohol is different than before. Some older people feel the effects of alcohol more strongly without increasing the amount they drink. This can make them more likely to have accidents such as falls, fractures, and car crashes.
Why do I drink when I don’t enjoy it?
When drinking starts to become excessive and is taking over our lives – we might not even like the taste anymore. But this doesn't matter to the amygdala. It has been conditioned from years of drinking and associations to believe that drinking is vital to survival.
Her TEDx talk, “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong,” is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and international bestselling author. You may also consider joining an online support group to help you feel less alone.
What Drinking as a Teenager Does to Their Brain
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, we can help. Footprints to Recovery offers alcohol addiction treatment that’s evidence-based and personalized to your clinical needs, preferences, and life situation. 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. We’ll also teach you healthy coping skills that support long-term abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be deadly when not properly monitored. So, quitting “cold turkey” is not recommended, so it’s best to work with a health professional or a support group to stop drinking alcohol safely.
Boredom and isolation are known relapse triggers for people with substance use disorders. An important way to safeguard your sobriety is to be aware of this and take steps to mitigate it. This question has no single answer, as many variables play a role, especially when underlying mental health conditions that contribute to drinking are a concern.
Find a grownup drink
If it becomes frequent, try to taper off or contact an alcohol addiction treatment center. Anything to change up that routine of drinking out of boredom and make it harder for drinkers to find a place to get comfortable. But self-medicating like this is not just bad for your body, but it is also likely to make your mental health worse.
- Turner notes the importance of bringing along a trusted support person when attending events that involve alcohol.
- Downplaying the seriousness of alcohol misuse and addiction can have impactful ramifications.
- Alcohol misuse or alcohol use disorder is a pattern of drinking that can cause harm to a person’s health and social relationships.
- Sometimes admitting the truth to yourself is the first step.
- But self-medicating like this is not just bad for your body, but it is also likely to make your mental health worse.
- You’re less likely to binge drink if the alcohol isn’t within your reach.
- And here’s what you need to remember – what you’re going through is normal.
