From drinking on the weekends with buds, to drinking on thirsty Thursday and taco Tuesday, to having a few beers after work everyday to wind down and enjoy my time. I don’t have any trauma, I had a great childhood, I don’t drink to run from pain, I’m not an angry drunk and haven’t done anything super regretful while drinking. I continued to drink from bad habits and addiction, but also to hide from boredom.
Things that people do during that day that don’t involve recovering or boozy brunch. 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. Staying busy is a great way to stave off boredom and create space for healing the parts of your brain that took a walloping from drinking. That overcorrection is what you’re probably feeling right now.
Given the ubiquitous nature of alcohol advertising, you might look forward to having that drink as soon as you walk through the door at home or meet your pals at a bar. You feel more relaxed after that drink and look forward to the reward. Pretty soon, the anticipation starts to happen more frequently. This kind of patterned behavior can lead you down a path toward alcohol addiction. Drinking alone can become problematic when a person has a habit of doing it. You may believe you must hide your drinking from others, so you drink solo.
Break out an old game, book, or activity you enjoyed as a child (Pokémon or mini-golf, anyone?). Others among us are evaluating their consumption carefully; it doesn’t matter the reason, and it doesn’t matter the duration. Some people will be sober their whole lives (or the rest of their lives), and some may dabble in sobriety throughout various seasons. Craig Beck is a renowned professional alcohol addiction therapist, coach, and mentor.His unique approach has helped over 250,000 people escape the loop of alcoholism. For many, the lure of alcohol is not just about the taste or the buzz—it’s about escaping uncomfortable drinking out of boredom emotions. Boredom is one such emotion, and it can be surprisingly challenging.