Im So Bored!

This can be a huge hurdle to overcome for many, as it is honestly quite uncomfortable to do something outside of our norm to make a change. Change can be hard, as habits are ingrained in our psyche. And one has to be willing to feel uncomfortable to make those changes happen for oneself. I would like to invite anyone reading this to be patient with themselves, and to find ways to adjust to their boredom and discomfort with doing something different. One of the most important things you can do is learn to do things by yourself and work on enjoying spending time with yourself. Yes, this can seem a bit daunting and lonely at first, but as you get used to it, you’ll see that it can really help to alleviate boredom in sobriety.

Instead, focus on things, experiences, and activities that will support your new, healthy lifestyle. Addiction leaves a big hole to fill and if you don’t keep yourself occupied that hole will fill with negative thoughts and actions. Before long you’ll happily accept the newfound peace that boredom can bring. There aren’t many life experiences comparable to getting sober.

sobering

You want to feel happy or high to fill the void that you’re feeling. While using drugs and alcohol could be a quick fix, it can do more harm than good especially for people who are just trying to sort out their addiction recovery. Activities that use both your hands and brain like crosswords, cross-stitching, and jigsaw puzzles can keep you occupied drinking out of boredom and your mind off any pain or negative feelings. You can take part in the same hobbies you enjoyed before addiction or learn something new. Fishing, quilting, gardening, and even video games are much more productive than using drugs or drinking. Fill your idle time with hobbies and activities to keep your brain from drifting to dark places.

• I enjoy being myself a gazillion times more today than I ever did when I was getting high.
• Such symptoms are often related to mood and may include irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and fatigue.
• Shame is having negative beliefs about yourself and your self-worth.
• I would like to invite anyone reading this to be patient with themselves, and to find ways to adjust to their boredom and discomfort with doing something different.
• When the average guy gets bored and wants to drink, he has 2 or 3 beers and gets on with life.

So it’s not that sobriety is inherently boring; it’s that your serotonin and dopamine levels are now very low. That latter experience feeling like everything is gray and dull and lacks meaning? A lot of people experience anhedonia when they quit. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness. It is also responsible for regulating movement and emotional response.

The Takeaway: How To Deal With Being Sober and Bored

Chaos is very emotional and instinctual. It’s based upon whim and feeling; being largely impulsive and erratic. On these shores there is no peace, just chasing after the next thing that might deliver it.

You would just be like, high while you were bored. Or you would just be wasted while you were bored. If you’re in a funk (or if you smell a funk), jump in the shower and alternate between hot and very cold water. Research shows that “hydrotherapy” may improve circulation and help balance neurotransmitters like serotonin. I always feel reenergized, reinvigorated, and calm after taking a hot/cold shower or using a steam room with a cold shower in it. Even if you’re not as compulsive as I am, you’ll find that reducing clutter clears your mind and enhances your creativity.

One response to “Is Sobriety Boring?”

Hibiscus and linden flower are useful in relieving bad moods. If I’m trying to read before bed and need some non-caffeinated energy, I’ll use South African Rooibos. I’ll take being a wise old herbalist over being a batshit drunk mixologist any day of the week.

• I don’t know whether it’s a placebo effect or whether juicing is a mood-enhancing panacea, but I always feel better after I drink some green juice.
• Other definitions, however, often focus on the process of recovery and developing coping mechanisms and habits that support health and wellness over the long term.
• Work with somebody, talk to a therapist, go to treatment, do whatever it is that you gotta do to get to that point where you’re not obsessing over drugs and alcohol anymore.
• Things that people do during that day that don’t involve recovering or boozy brunch.
• So much pain that you were taking drugs and you were taking alcohol to kind of numb it and to escape it.
• Activities that use both your hands and brain like crosswords, cross-stitching, and jigsaw puzzles can keep you occupied and your mind off any pain or negative feelings.
• However, research suggests that while 12-step groups are effective, people often don’t continue their involvement at beneficial levels over the long term.

Those activities may be worth a revisit. Though boredom in early recovery can be challenging, remember that many before you have figured out how to sustain the changes they want for themselves. When you are in recovery, you’ll hear many of the same tips for relieving boredom; find a hobby, join groups, take up an old, forgotten talent or hobby, go to support groups, etc. And while these are great tips, when you’re in recovery for a longer period of time, these may become boring to you too. Take time to rediscover who you are, what you like, what you want to try, what you want to accomplish, and remember to dream big!

Some Awesome Books To Deliver Boredom A Knockout Wallop:

Take a look at these before and after pictures of alcohol recovery to see what we mean. Don’t just list things that are out of this world like skydiving or traveling to the North Pole. You have to also list simple things that are easily achievable like learning how to bake a cake, watching all of the Marvel movies again, or starting a journal. Whenever you’re bored or you find yourself without anything to do, you can reach out for your bucket list for ideas.

The information we provide while responding to comments is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. The responses to comments on fitrecovery.com are designed to support, not replace, medical or psychiatric treatment. Please seek professional care if you believe you may have a condition.