Ask a Therapist: How Do I Know If My Drinking Is a Problem?

The boring moments make the exciting moments seem all the more exciting. We have good weather days and bad weather days. We have the seasons where we can stroll around in the fine warm weather and other seasons where we have to get all dressed up in our woolen winter clothes. If every day was the same we’d soon get bored.

• Knowing how to identify the signs of heading toward alcoholism can allow you or a loved one to seek treatment and recover.
• It makes sense and I thought about that before I went but now I realize that he’s right.
• These triggers can create cravings for alcohol and other drugs, which may lead to relapse and continued addiction.
• I’ve spent the last six years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America says that alcohol and other substances can worsen anxiety symptoms. About 20% of Americans with an anxiety or mood disorder such as depression have an alcohol or other substance use disorder. Unfortunately, the creativity that boredom allows for can dream up all sorts of food possibilities. Get More Sleep – Sleep is an important time in every day, as critical hunger hormones like leptin and ghrelin are produced and released.

Social Media Affects on Teens

how to stop drinking out of boredom tough in early sobriety but force yourself to do daily self-help tasks like making gratitude lists, reviewing daily readings on recovery, or calling your sponsor. These may take up only a few minutes but will cut down on boredom and help you keep focused on why you’ve quit. The old saying goes ‘an idle mind is the devil’s playground’ and that’s absolutely true in sobriety.

“Aside from liver damage you’ll do, long term drinking greatly increases your probability of getting cancer.” That’s exactly how I felt every single day and exactly how I loved my life.

How To Stop Drinking When Your Spouse Won’t

If you have a willing friend or family member, take them along. If the internet has shown us anything, it’s that neither matters. That is the activity I’ve buried my energy into since quitting. Finding something to get you out of this boring, sober lull is the point. But if you’re committed to working through it, here are some things you can do to open up your world a little bit and work through this difficult time. So now you’re stuck dealing with them without that artificial dopamine boost you’ve become so reliant on. Don’t get down on yourself because you can’t get wasted at the bar with your friends anymore.