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

Your friends are out getting drunk, same as they always do. Meanwhile, you’re at home wondering how many days it would take someone to find your body after you’ve choked on those peanut M&M’s you’ve been knocking back during your latest Netflix binge. Author of Sober In Seven https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and wellness and sobriety coach in the UK, here to use my own experience of overcoming alcohol addiction to support you on your journey to a better healthier life. Mental health needs as much attention as physical health, so if you are suffering, go and talk to your doctor.

You can make it about something you enjoy, like fashion, fishing or food. Chances are your closet is filled with tons of things you no longer wear, right?

If you’re bored because the task is too easy or too hard, tweak it.

In response, some people seek outlets that are detrimental to their well-being. Drinking out of boredom is common, especially among those suffering from other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Drinking to combat boredom can be problematic, but you can prevent long-term consequences if you identify it early.

• Like many people, it sounds like you initially sought alcohol because you thought it was a solution.
• I think for a lot of us drinking is covering problems that once sober, have to be explored and solutions found.
• Drinking out of boredom is common, especially among those suffering from other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
• You can even invite some family friends so they can be involved, too.
• Her books, including “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do,” have been translated into more than 40 languages.

I described my drinking habit, and asked her how many years I might get. She said it was hard to say, but admitted—as a medical professional—she “would be concerned.”

During lockdown, drinking has become a worryingly easy way to punctuate the day

First, we can feel bored when we’re in a position where we can’t pay attention, either because the task we’re doing is too easy or too hard. With some perspective — which you usually obtain after certain periods of sobriety — you start to understand that life is, on occasion, mundane. That’s not the same as boring, but the routine of work, of bills, of family obligations, of doing it all over again every day can seem quite tedious.

Alcohol addiction rehab programs should address substance use as well as any underlying co-occurring mental health disorders. The most effective treatment provides access to ongoing therapy, skills training, group or peer support, relapse avoidance techniques, and prescribed medications, if necessary. Taking a personalized approach allows many families and individuals the chance to adjust treatment to best suit lifestyle, needs, and long-term goals. Many people struggle with drinking out of boredom, and even if they don’t particularly like alcohol or its effects.

Drinking Out of Boredom

I found myself planning little outings when I got sober because I needed to figure out what it meant to have fun again. Yes, you could just hop on YouTube and pick an exercise and it WOULD help, but you do need to force yourself to get out of the house whenever possible. Finding something to get you out of this boring, sober lull is the point. Finding something to do and care about helps create meaning in our lives, drinking because of boredom something you might desperately need at the moment. 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. Now that you know the chemical reason for your boredom, let’s explore ways you can proactively work against it. It’s why nothing seems fun or interesting, and you struggle to rally the motivation to have a good time.

I also have a side business, and that has kept me busy most days. But the problem with working so hard on the weekend is that you feel burnt out going back to your “real job” on Monday. But I PROMISE you, if you keep moving forward, things in your brain will start to click. And one day it will occur to you that you’re actually happy and enjoying your life. Having a professional on your team guiding you through it can help you navigate things in healthy ways while providing you with tools to manage the process without drinking. You have to understand what you’re feeling and WHY you’re feeling this way in order to change it. When you get sober, you realize there is an entire daytime pulse in your city or town that you never really felt before.

Even the things I only ever did sober are unbearable now. I’ve spent the last six years researching and understanding alcoholism, addiction, and how people get sober. Scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve mental health and cognitive function in both kids and adults. What did you enjoy doing before drinking came around and took over your social life? If you must dig WAY back into childhood for this answer, then do that.

So seek the help of other, non-judgy supportive people to help you stop drinking out of boredom. If you want to reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, it makes sense to avoid busy bars and thirsty friends. But many of us should because millions of us resort to drinking out of boredom whilst relaxing at home. Many people claim that they drink for the totally opposite reason – they find themselves drinking out of boredom.