People often say they drink alcohol to “relieve boredom”. Being bored when sober bored after quitting drinking is easily overcome. Participating in spiritual things to do instead of drugs is a vital element of my recovery.
Additional reasons you might feel depressed when you quit drinking:
The early stages of sobriety can be tough when drugs or alcohol are no longer part of the picture. Old habits are hard to break, and without them, free time can feel like an empty void. But here’s the good news—sobriety doesn’t have to be boring. When contemplating getting sober (or when you’re newly sober) you may wonder what you will do for fun.
Does not drinking make you boring?
The setting, working on and achieving goals is practiced by (almost) all successful Drug rehabilitation people. If I buy those products and I use them, the marketing has served its purpose. I feel good about my buying decision and the product has added value to my life. Because I’ve experienced riding a motorcycle and I know it’s true.
- If you are thinking about writing a schedule, one of the best ways to do it is in the evening.
- Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) highlights that engaging in activities that bring joy and meaning can significantly reduce the risk of relapse.
- Understanding one’s genetic predisposition can be crucial in developing a personalized recovery plan.
Sobriety Boredom Clobbering Club #1 – Learn Something New
Boredom can be a common relapse trigger for those in recovery, especially in the earliest stages. That’s because drugs and alcohol change how the brain works. The human brain releases dopamine to reward behavior and encourage one to reinforce it. Fried and overly sugary foods will also artificially spike your dopamine levels and cause your brain to overcorrect, leaving you feeling irritable, depressed, and cranky.
Integrating Compassion Recovery Center Services into Your Sobriety Journey
Spending time understanding and working through your issues is crucial for recovery, and will give you the best defense against relapse. So I work nights throughout the week and on my days off I follow the same bed schedule. On my days off I used to drink most of the night and have fun playing games online or watching things on youtube and the like. Now that I’m not up all night drinking, I feel utter boredom with everything. No game currently is holding my attention.
- You sleep a lot and you feel a little down your body and your mind and your emotions are adjusting to life without alcohol.
- And I want to ask you, if you’re there, are you feeling bored in early sobriety?
- I alluded to this in the paragraphs above, but service work is the ultimate boredom buster.
This stage is characterized by increased clarity and the emergence of complex emotions that were previously numbed by substance use. Cravings are intense urges to use substances that can persist long after the initial withdrawal phase. They’re a common struggle in sobriety, often triggered by environmental cues, stress, or emotions.