The Dangers of Boredom in Recovery

When you think of threats to your recovery, you most likely think of specific ones, such as being around individuals that use drugs and alcohol, high-stress levels, or dysfunctional living situations. However, one of the most common relapse triggers that is often ignored is boredom. 

Boredom can have a significant impact on your recovery and ability to stay sober. Everyone experiences this emotion from time to time, but it can be disastrous for those in recovery if it is not adequately dealt with. Understanding the dangers of boredom in recovery can help you better prepare for it and actively work to avoid it. Consider these tips when you experience boredom in your recovery journey.

Why Is Boredom a Threat to Recovery?

While you may have initially used drugs and alcohol to self-medicate or due to peer pressure, you most likely ended up using for recreational purposes during active addiction. Therefore, now that you are sober, you may feel more inclined to use drugs and alcohol when you are bored. Thus, the feeling can lead to regrets and severe consequences on your physical health, mental health, and overall recovery. 

Boredom can potentially lead to relapse, leading to full-blown addiction if it is not addressed early on. For these reasons, boredom is a significant threat to recovery that you must prepare for and avoid to maintain long-term sobriety.

What Causes Boredom?

An excellent way to prepare for boredom in recovery is to understand the common causes of the feeling. Recognizing these causes early on can prompt you to fill your time with healthier, sober activities before you are tempted to return to drugs and alcohol.

Common causes of boredom include:

• Not having an outlet for pent-up energy
• Feeling unmotivated and without purpose
• Feeling frustrated due to your current situation and inability to change it
• Believing you would feel better if you could change your environment
• Having free time but nothing pleasing to fill it with
• Not being able to focus on anything for too long

Ensuring You Are Feeling Boredom (and Not Something Else)

Misinterpreting other feelings as boredom can lead to further problems, so it is crucial to identify what you feel as boredom and not something else. It is easy to confuse boredom with other feelings such as depression and hopelessness, especially in early recovery. When you are still adjusting to life without drugs and alcohol, your brain’s chemistry will have to rebalance and become accustomed to not having the extra surges of chemicals from substance use. You may feel overly depressed and confuse this feeling for boredom. Taking a step back and listing your symptoms, the causes, and how long you have been experiencing them can help you properly label your emotions. You can then address what you are feeling properly.

Overcoming Boredom in Recovery

Learning how to overcome boredom is crucial for being successful in recovery. The best way to do so is to be more active in your recovery by engaging in healthy physical and mental health activities. Over time, you will learn how to avoid and cope with boredom so you can prevent potential relapse. Consider these tips as you work to overcome boredom in recovery:

• Join a support group. Surrounding yourself with other individuals that are also in recovery is an excellent way to fill free time and receive support for sobriety. You may think that boredom is a trivial concern, but discussing your struggles at a support group can help you relate to others and receive practical advice on how to overcome them. Forming connections with the individuals in the support group can help you avoid boredom in the future by engaging in sober activities with these individuals.
  

• Try a new hobby. You don’t want to avoid boredom with activities that may tempt you into using drugs and alcohol. Therefore, you should use the time to try new sober hobbies and discover your passions. You can listen to new music, join a sports team, ride horses, learn to draw, read a book, or try an exercise routine. Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy it and feel good while doing it.
  

• Practice mindfulness. When you are bored, you may not feel motivated to do much. Mindfulness is a healthy activity that doesn’t take much energy and helps you combat boredom. You can do breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or take a walk in nature. Whatever you decide, focus on being present and being more in touch with your senses.

Boredom may seem harmless, but it can severely threaten your recovery. Learning the causes of boredom and how to overcome it can keep your sobriety safe, and your recovery sustained. At NorthStar Transitions, we understand the challenges that come with long-term recovery, including boredom. For this reason, we offer numerous services to keep you motivated in recovery, including support group connections, aftercare programs, and an extensive alumni network. Just because you are out of treatment, this doesn’t mean you are alone in recovery. Fill your free time with other sober activities and people. Our facility is located in the mountains of Boulder, CO, so you can engage in multiple outdoor activities to aid in your recovery. The NorthStar difference includes individualized programs, evidence-based clinical practices, and affordable care. If you require guidance in your recovery journey, call us today at (303) 558-6400. Your healing begins and continues with NorthStar Transitions.

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