By employing these frameworks, Megan empowers her clients to confront their realities and comprehend the tangible impact of systemic factors on their lives. Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! Nate Denning is the Lead Admission Representative at AspenRidge Recovery. Before moving to AspenRidge, Nate served as operations director at a local organization that has sober living homes throughout the Denver area. When he’s not working, Nate enjoys horticulture and is very active in Denver’s recovery community.

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• She participated in research studying ADHD in children, mindfulness and anxiety, and embodied cognition.
• By practicing self-awareness and reflection, you can develop healthier habits and coping mechanisms to replace boredom drinking.
• Some fun and exciting examples of physical exercise and outdoor activities include kayaking or fishing, camping, spin class, yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, Zumba, Bootcamp, and Class Pass.
• Self-care activities remind you that you deserve to feel good and that taking care of yourself is a priority, not a luxury.
• This will help you become more aware of when and how you experience urges, what triggers them, and ways to avoid or control them.

Understanding this connection is the first step towards breaking the cycle. Our brain also becomes accustomed to the presence of alcohol and starts to see it as the “new normal.” So when there’s no alcohol, things seem a bit off. The brain starts to signal the craving for alcohol, not just to seek pleasure but also to restore what it perceives as normalcy.

See yourself as a person who doesn’t drink

It will probably always hurt, but someday it won’t be new anymore. Talk therapy is an important part of treatment for alcohol use disorder, but Dr. Streem says just about anyone who is making a life drinking out of boredom change, like quitting drinking, can benefit from therapy. Dr. Streem says that if your goal is to stop drinking altogether, you’re more likely to have success quitting all at once, rather than weaning off alcohol. But that advice changes if you’re living with alcohol use disorder. With time, and by practicing new responses, you’ll find that your urges to drink will lose strength, and you’ll gain confidence in your ability to deal with urges that may still arise at times. If you are having a very difficult time with urges, or do not make progress with the strategies in this activity after a few weeks, then consult a healthcare professional for support.

• Unstructured time leads to unpredictable behaviors, which are problematic in recovery.
• You should be able to go about living your life without drinking alcohol, but you feel utterly useless and have no idea what to do with yourself.
• This will help you regain control of your life and improve your overall mental health and well-being.

What is a relaxing drink to replace alcohol?

She spends most weekends in the mountains hiking, fishing, 4-wheeling, and camping. Jill is an avid photographer and particularly enjoys Colorado sunsets. If she won the lottery tomorrow, Jill would create a pet sanctuary where the community would unite.

This could mean opting out of the weekly pub quiz for a while, or if you tend to drink when eating out, try going to restaurants that don’t sell alcohol or simply volunteering to drive. Similarly, try to identify the times when you would usually drink and fill the gap with something else. We always recommend consulting with a medical professional before making a major change to your lifestyle. Pre-drinking is obviously very tempting, especially when you realise that a glass of shitty Chardonnay at the pub is the same price as an entire bottle from Aldi.

Change your environment

Additionally, I examine the way mental and physical health as well as our relationships with others impact the reasons people drink and their role in maintaining sobriety long-term. By participating in addiction treatment programs, you can effectively address your boredom drinking and take the necessary steps towards a healthier and more fulfilling life. Surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family who encourage sobriety and engage in alcohol-free activities can be incredibly beneficial in combating boredom drinking. By building a strong support network, you can access the encouragement and guidance you need to stay sober and successfully overcome boredom drinking.