Boredom in Recovery
When you live a life in recovery away from abusive substances, you have a lot of time on your hands. Boredom can lead an addict to thinking there will be no more fun left in their lives anymore and that their lives going forward will be a boring one. Addicts need to fill their time with productive habits and hobbies before they decide to relapse back to their unhealthy addictions.
Boredom occurs when an addict feels anger and bitterness for not being around a substance that used to bring them fun. In the UK, 29% of teenagers drink just because they have nothing better to do. Boredom can happen in the early weeks and months of sobriety. Living a sober life does not mean that your life will no longer be enjoyable.
You can call or text a family member, friend, co-worker, sponsor, or anyone else who understands your addiction, who is supportive towards your recovery, and understands how boredom can lead to a relapse. Being with someone you care about will be a great distraction to your cravings. You can go outside and be surrounded by the power of nature as you breathe in the air, take a walk, or ride a bike. Writing in a journal can be used to writing about the past, the present, and what your future can be like away from addiction. By tracking your progress, you will see how far you have come and you can write down your future goals that addiction prevented you from pursuing. You can even write a blog about your progress with addiction in order to create a following of other addicts struggling with their cravings and to inspire others that sobriety is possible.
You can try to make tasks you are not looking forward to doing like cleaning or grocery shopping more fun. For cleaning, you can listen to music to get you going and for grocery shopping, you can think in mind that you are getting ingredients for an interesting recipe that you are looking forward to trying. Volunteering at a homeless or animal shelter can give you confidence and help you give back towards the community. Doing crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and word searches can occupy your mind. Plan ahead your day so you can wake up knowing you have plenty to do and do different things each day to prevent the boringness of routine.
Castle Craig is one of the most established and respected addiction rehab centers in the UK. Castle Craig’s family therapy involves promoting recovery, exploring the impact of addiction, discovering adaptive strategies, residential family programs, and joining two joint sessions with the patient and the therapist. For information, call our 24 hour free confidential phone-line: 01721 546 263. From outside the UK please call: +44 808 271 7500 (normal charges apply).
