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Choosing a new hobby to occupy your time is not always easy. It may require a bit of soul-searching, especially when your motivation is at historically low levels. And while these things might sound serious and scary, it’s important to note that it’s one piece of a larger https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/6-successfull-and-motivational-sobriety-stories/ puzzle. It’s not as simple as “getting out there” and “trying something new.” It’s hard to do that when you suffer from extreme depression and anhedonia. The very things you should be doing to feel better require a level of motivation you might not be able to fathom.
- I have made new friends and more authentic connections in sobriety.
- Trying new activities can help you find and explore new levels of enjoyment, delight, or even purpose.
- Also, there is a significant increase in recovery-based social events and activities as being sober becomes more understood and accepted in the mainstream.
- Volunteering is a great way to show sobriety is not boring.
- This one blew me away because it was something I really struggled with forever yet I had no idea it was linked to my need to drink.
Boredom may be lurking around any corner, on any slow day when nothing was planned, when there’s no one entertaining around to keep things lively. On those days when nothing occupies your mind, your thoughts may wander off to disappointments or losses of the past. The first try may be uncomfortable or unfulfilling, but with practice, the results will improve and it may become more enjoyable over time. Of course, not every new activity will spark a positive reaction, so it’s important to not give up and continue to experiment if the first attempt falls flat. Overdoses can also create a series of negative consequences. In some instances, an overdose can lead to coma or death, so anyone facing a relapse or overdose should always seek professional treatment from an addiction professional.
Nothing Else Has Changed
The brain naturally releases neurotransmitters like dopamine as a way to reward a behavior and encourage you to repeat it. A person who eats a good meal, exercises or has sex will experience a release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters to reinforce the positive action. If I’d known what I would find at my first sober dweeb meeting, I would have gone decades ago. Sure, AA and Smart are weird compared to pubs and barbecues.
Sometimes boredom in sobriety looks like not wanting to be around anyone. When serotonin and dopamine levels are low, we become less motivated and less interested in our surroundings. This can lead to feelings of extreme boredom and apathy.
The Week After 30 Days Sober
I got so elated with the memories of my childhood holidays. I started the day by sleeping in and then had coffee alone, outside on my deck. I’d call anyone boredom drinking to provide some drinking reprieve so I could continue to avoid myself. As a drinker, I used to always be on the lookout for people to drink with.
What’s more the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism reports that about 90% of those individuals who were in treatment for alcoholism relapse within four years. These statistics are somewhat discouraging but it’s important to realize that relapse doesn’t have to be a part of recovery. With a solid support group, an understanding of one’s own personal triggers, and plans to counteract temptations, you can enter recovery once–and remain there. If you are attending support groups, meeting people, and getting involved in whatever sober community you’ve connected with for support.
Yes, Alcohol Makes Your Anxiety Symptoms Worse
Having the correct mindset when you stop drinking makes a huge difference. The better way to look at boredom is that it is not a problem, it is, in fact, an opportunity. A chance to rediscover who you are and adjust to your changed circumstances. If you’ve ever wanted to do things before but haven’t gotten around to actually doing them, this is the time to list them all down.
- Like you’re not actually doing much of ANYTHING… except not drinking.
- After all, if you’ve been able to overcome an AUD or SUD, you can really accomplish whatever you choose.
- Find the courage to take chances, try new things, and dare to live your best life.
- Boredom is an enemy in sobriety but there are several ways you can fill your time with healthy, productive activities.
- But if you can’t or aren’t able to do a group class, at the very least, take a tech-free 30-minute walk every day.
- When you are in recovery from alcohol or drugs, your life becomes a blank canvas and you can paint whatever picture you want.
Maybe a disagreement with a coworker or supervisor starts to fester and cause problems. Maybe it feels like you can never take a break from the long hours or extra shifts. But it is not always the obvious things that put a person’s sobriety at risk.
Learn About Lighthouse
It’s pretty normal to reduce the entire experience of boredom in sobriety to missing alcohol and believing that getting drunk is the primary way you (and everyone else) have fun. Alcohol did help me to let go of my self-consciousness and dance, but I had to drink an awful lot to achieve it. More often than not, by the time I had drunk enough to feel like dancing the bar was about to close. Also, beer helped me to socialize in groups when it turns out I didn’t actually really enjoy that. Sobriety is not boring when you make it a point to exercise. When you are sober, your body is working hard to heal itself from the negative consequences of addiction.
Instead of just writing up tasks for the day, what you can do is to plot out what you need to do every hour. This way, you can create a routine that you can follow. Planning your days in advance can also help because you can see whether there are gaps in your schedule that you can fill out.
