Boredom can unexpectedly become a cue for sensation-seeking behavior. The current pandemic has highlighted how boredom can trigger the misuse of substances, particularly alcohol. In fact, alcohol sales outside of bars and restaurants surged 24% drinking out of boredom shortly after stay-at-home orders began. The reasons people start drinking alcohol is very different than the reasons they continue to drink alcohol. Boredom and isolation are known relapse triggers for people with substance use disorders.

Create a Healthy Support System

If our body perceives a harmless situation as dangerous, we start to experience increased levels of stress and anxiety. And the thing about alcohol is that it is way more efficient and reliable at creating this effect than natural rewards like having fun with friends or eating a delicious meal. 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.

• If you’re at the point where you’re emotionally drinking and unable to derive pleasure from everyday activities, it can be a sign that you need additional support to break out of this cycle.
• Surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family who encourage sobriety and engage in alcohol-free activities can be incredibly beneficial in combating boredom drinking.
• That being said, drinking FOMO is real and must be dealt with.
• Volunteering is a great way to reconnect with your community.

Tracking Your Drinking Patterns

I over-identified with every negative feeling in my body. Plus, you might meet some cool people, and that’s always a double win. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ I kept a notebook and pen beside my bed in case I woke up in the middle of the night with a brilliant song lyric or poem.

WAYS TO PREVENT DRINKING OUT OF BOREDOM

Sometimes we would watch a show, but even that become untenable for me after a couple of drinks because I did not have the attention span for it. This is important to remember when thinking about boredom. Whether it’s your partner, friends or colleagues, ask those who know you for ideas of things you can experiment with to fill your time differently. Don’t assume people are too busy to see you, all they need is to know that you would like to meet up. Everyone reacts to boredom differently, but the way we react is vital to our health and well-being. There will always be a long lost friend who arrives on your doorstep looking to catch up over a few drinks.

• If your strategy to drink less didn’t work, don’t regret or give in to guilt.
• Drinking out of boredom can reinforce negative feelings and self-medicate.
• Maybe you love your job overall, but you don’t so much care for all of the scheduling and management that needs to be done to do your job effectively.

Emotional Triggers for Boredom Drinking

• Forming healthy connections with other people is an important of this process.
• Think of times or places where alcohol is normally found.
• If your dose of stimulation is mostly a walk to the fridge, you might be a bored drinker.
• That overcorrection is what you’re probably feeling right now.