Giving up alcohol lower your blood pressure. If you’re feeling creative, you can have a go at whipping up some non-alcoholic cocktails at home such as this virgin Pina Colada recipe or a Cranberry Cutie cocktail. An inspirational memoir from one mum, who found wine o’clock was getting out of hand.
There are loads of great books out there offering advice on how to stop drinking. They range from very personal accounts of addiction to motivational guides and psychology-based books, aimed at changing your mindset, so you view drinking differently. Write it out or talk it out with a friend (or your voice memos app). These notes on drinking being not fun or relaxing, and quitting being not hard are essentially a paraphrase of Alan Carr’s book Quit Drinking Without Willpower. Boredom is a natural state or emotion that’s part of the spectrum of things we feel as humans, and we all experience boredom in different forms and at different times. Facing your unhappy thoughts can be overwhelming, and it’s natural to need a break or a distraction from time to time.
Drinking Is A Chemical And Psychological Addiction
Boredom can be scary, but incredibly essential in recovery and is an essential step in recovering from substance abuse. It’s essential to remember that this is a normal part of recovery and that it will disappear with time as your body adjusts. Alcohol has been shown to artificially boost serotonin and dopamine in your brain, which are two of the main neurotransmitters responsible for mood regulation. Just as is the case with boredom, we need to be agentic in seeking out meaningful interactions to overcome loneliness.
- So, if you’ve heard this whisper, let’s make the assumption that you perhaps drink more than you’d like (or have in the past).
- It is also responsible for regulating movement and emotional response.
- Take what applies to you and leave whatever doesn’t.
- You have to understand what you’re feeling and WHY you’re feeling this way in order to change it.
That being said, if you are able to start your sober journey with a feeling of happiness, these challenges can be easily overcome. Boredom and stress are two emotions that can feel as if they are never going to leave. However, as the saying goes, this too shall pass. Valuing and drinking out of boredom prioritizing yourself in recovery can be a powerful way to remove the hold alcohol has on you. It can be used as an outlet to express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It’s an easy way to get some fresh air and enjoy yourself without the temptation of drugs or alcohol.
My challenge: life is BORING without alcohol!
I learnt recently that it takes alcohol seven minutes to hit the brain, so perhaps it’s not too dissimilar to that fake initial ‘relief’ you get when drinking the real thing. I’d seen it in countless bookshops and websites and decided to give it a go after spotting another glowing review. At that point, I wasn’t planning to stop drinking but I was curious about the author’s story and how quitting alcohol had impacted her life. Everywhere I turn, there’s a virtual cocktail hour.
