02 Dec Tips to stop drinking out of boredom
This is especially true if you’re triggered by experiences like boredom or isolation. The accessibility of alcohol makes it that much harder to refrain from drinking to cope with these difficult feelings. For other people, drinking alcohol out of boredom is a much more active choice – they drink to cope with negative feelings like anxiety or loneliness. Many people say that they drink alcohol to manage anxiety – to numb it or take the edge off difficult feelings.
KARLIE ROSHONG – Clinical Manager
According to Medical News Today, the average adult in the United States experiences around 131 days of boredom per year. How we react to the state of boredom is critical to our ongoing mental health, experts state. We focus on rewiring the belief, building the skills, shifting the mindset to change how you respond to life’s boring, stressful, or emotionally itchy moments—without needing to numb them away. While it once pushed our ancestors toward survival and purpose, today it often drives us toward quick fixes like alcohol.
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. In Psychology (Clinical Counseling) and a master’s in Addiction Counseling Psychology at Colorado State University.
Take Control of Your Life
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 believes in collaborating with her clients, tailoring interventions to suit their individual needs.
Before AspenRidge, he was a clinical-psychologist intern while progressing toward his doctorate. Life can sometimes feel repetitive, and many people find themselves with idle time. Boredom is a normal part of life, but how we deal with it can significantly impact our well-being.
Anna Smith, LP – Assistant Clinical Director
She is a Brainspotting practitioner and is currently completing requirements toward the LPC. Meghan drinking because of boredom 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. A U.S. Army veteran, Chandler began his clinical path working with at-risk youth and completed formal addiction-counseling training before moving into individual and group therapy.
Her journey began with crisis intervention for families, evolving into roles in community counseling, corrections, and residential facilities. Her expertise encompasses group and individual work, with a particular focus on trauma. Darcie finds fulfillment in working with the LGBTQ+ population, leveraging her skills to support and empower.
Many people claim that they drink for the totally opposite reason – they find themselves drinking out of boredom. Parties, seasonal events, family meals or work gatherings might spring to mind. Drinking alcohol is often seen as a very social activity, but in truth for millions of people, it’s the total opposite.
- Soon it can seem weird NOT to have a glass in your hand, even if the rest of you is thinking about something else (or not thinking about very much at all).
- But self-medicating like this is not just bad for your body, but it is also likely to make your mental health worse.
- Before moving to AspenRidge, Nate served as operations director at a local organization that has sober living homes throughout the Denver area.
- Most people drink to fill some sort of void, like boredom, loneliness, an unhappy relationship, job-related stress or anxiety.
- If you’d like to explore this further, check out this list of boredom-drinking-interrupting activities.
Danny has extensive experience in effectively treating incidental and complex trauma. He further describes his approach as science-driven, constantly reviewing the latest literature and theory. Danny ensures he has as many techniques as possible to help people improve their well-being and achieve their goals. Outside of work, he divides his time between family, basketball, and rock climbing. If Danny won the lottery, he’d start a tech company focusing on deep learning to support people in coping strategies.
- It typically occurs when we find ourselves disengaged from what’s going on around us or when there’s a lack of interest or enjoyment in our activities.
- 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.
- Andy explains how a straightforward, 7-stage process enabled him to change a lifelong addiction to alcohol.
- Unstructured time leads to unpredictable behaviors, which are problematic in recovery.
Join the Sober Curiosity Insider
To explore this further, try this 3-step boredom drinking interrupt strategy and take your first step toward a more intentional life. Many high-functioning drinkers who try to take a break from alcohol find that boredom is one of the hardest emotions to deal with when getting alcohol-free. Exercise is a powerful way to rebuild your body in recovery and a healthy coping skill. It’s a way to care for yourself by committing to a practice that releases positive, mood-enhancing endorphins and alleviates stress. Finding a new activity and hobby such as working out can provide something to look forward to each day.
Most of us would literally rather zap ourselves with pain than sit quietly with our own thoughts.
Finding the Right Treatment for Alcohol Abuse
If you’d like to explore this further, check out this list of boredom-drinking-interrupting activities. If you’re ready to break free from this habit and reclaim control of your life, the Stop Drinking Expert is here to help. With resources, articles, and support, you can learn how to live a healthier, more fulfilling life without alcohol. Sign up for a free quit-drinking webinar today and start your journey toward a sober, more rewarding future. Additionally, because alcohol can impair judgment and lower inhibitions, people who drink out of boredom may make unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as overeating or skipping exercise.
Taking a personalized approach allows many families and individuals the chance to adjust treatment to best suit lifestyle, needs, and long-term goals. 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. He describes his area of expertise as treating substance use disorders, compulsive behaviors, and co-occurring mood disorders such as depression and anxiety that may travel with a substance use disorder.
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. Karlie says the best advice ever received is to not fall in love with potential. Before AspenRidge, she spent six years in substance-use and mental-health roles.
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