In this post, we’re going to uncover some truths about mindset, alcohol, and how to overcome boredom after quitting drinking. If I’m honest, it takes three beers for me to really give a fuck about anything. And I know this sounds like I’m depressed, but I’m not. It’s just that a three-beer buzz lends my weeknights a significance and a special glow.

• For many people, especially in awkward or tense social situations, this can be just what they need to relax and enjoy themselves.
• Other tasks like laundry and cleaning the house can cause boredom and be a source of anxiety.
• If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, we can help.

Regardless of the screening results, it’s important to talk to a professional to get more information. Create a list of reasons why you want to cut back/stop. What are the reasons you want to stop drinking? List the benefits of not drinking and the reasons you’d like to stop. When you’re tempted to reach for alcohol, read over the list. So while one person may have a few drinks every week without experiencing any repercussions, someone else might experience serious problems when they consume the same amount of alcohol. The line between alcohol use and misuse doesn’t just depend on how many drinks you have or how often you drink.

Why Do People Think Alcohol Relieves Boredom?

“Aside from liver damdrinking because of boredom you’ll do, long term drinking greatly increases your probability of getting cancer.” I got on the phone with Dr Amelia Stephens who is a GP in Brisbane. 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.” I decided to try occasional using about a year ago and have had zero problems so far.

Various factors lead individuals to abuse alcohol, including genetic traits, environmental reasons, and societal factors. Still, alcohol is a highly addictive substance that can lead to dependency, especially when consuming frequently and in large quantities. Drinking out of boredom may indicate a deeper issue at hand. According to Medical News Today, the average adult in the United States experiences around 131 days of boredom per year. How we react to the state of boredom is critical to our ongoing mental health, experts state. To those for whom being alone produces anxiety—even fear—alcohol can provide temporary solace.

DRINKING BORED

Author A designed the study and wrote most of the manuscript. Author B conducted the statistical analysis and wrote the Results section.

This really helped I hadn’t thought of the chemical connection and that makes sense and knowing these feeling will get better is a relief cos they are not great. I’m quite introverted so relearning to socialise is challenging. I’m 3 months in and the anxiety is really hard. I go home earlier and I assume everyone’s having more fun but I still love my friends even if i worry they love me a little less now I”m sober. I’m forced to deal with the emotions rather than bury them which I know deep down is better. It’s like relearning to have fun again, but actually the longer I’m sober the more supportive other people are of it. Instead I’m drinking coffee, listening to the birdsong and planning my day.