How to stop eating when youre bored Health and Wellbeing Queensland

She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively. The next time you reach for those leftovers or a bag of chips, try thinking about why you are even there. Sometimes it is boredom rather than hunger pangs driving you to grab an unnecessary snack. The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service is available for Queenslanders over the age of 16 years. It provides a free and confidential telephone coaching service to help you reach your healthy goals relating to healthy eating, physical activity and reaching and achieving a healthy weight. “When we say, ‘I’m bored’, it’s often a blanket for some other emotional thing that’s going on,” Kate says.

What is binge drinking?

Also, consider giving back along your recovery journey. Even if you’ve only been sober for 1 day, there’s someone who can use your guidance that is at day 0. They also give useful ideas for support strategies and even more tips to help you to get your drinking under control. The irony of this approach is that I often tried to drink away this fear to socialize more easily, and I arrogantly (and wrongly) believed that I was in control. Especially big mistakes that cost us our relationships our freedom.

Emotional Triggers for Boredom Drinking

So, when we’re bored and our brain is looking for that dopamine hit, it can often recall that alcohol was a past source of reward. That’s why we might find ourselves reaching for a drink when we’re simply sitting and not doing much. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just a result of having nothing to do. In fact, boredom is a genuine emotion, akin to happiness or sadness.

Additional resources to fight boredom in sobriety:

And the more I felt them, the more intense and blinding they would get. I over-identified with every negative feeling in my body. I found myself planning drinking out of boredom little outings when I got sober because I needed to figure out what it meant to have fun again. But also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and get involved in activities around your community. But it’s comforting to know that you don’t have figure it out on your own. This is important to remember when thinking about boredom.

How To Deal With An Angry Drunk: Critical Do’s and Don’t’s

Say you don’t have any cravings when you go without drinking. All the same, “a quick drink” often turns into three or four drinks. When you’re having a good time, you find it hard to stop, especially in the company of friends having the same amount. Dean says that finding an alcohol-free alternative that you genuinely like is a great way to break the pattern of heavy drinking. “There are so many more options now than the days where, if you weren’t drinking, your only choice was a tepid orange juice or bleak watered-down Coke,” she says.

Accept that you are in a transitional phase, which will take time.

• The person gets caught between their conflicting beliefs and is unable to restore internal consistency no matter what they do.
• “If it’s covering up an avoidance mechanism, there might be another way you can treat yourself kindly while addressing what you’re afraid of, rather than using the decoy of snacking.
• Chances are if you stay focused on the task at hand, you’ll forget all about the urge to eat.
• Alcohol abuse can cause or worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

The feeling often occurs when the day has been monotonous or repetitive. Many people turn to screen-based activities like watching TV or scrolling on their phone when they’re feeling bored. Trying to prevent boredom or override the feeling by eating and finding other distractions doesn’t always work. You might find meaning in the downtime by trying to embrace boredom instead.

It’s one of the many ways you will relearn how to enjoy life again without alcohol. When I quit drinking, I was lucky to have a spouse that supported my decision. My social circle changed when I got sober because I realized that many of my relationships were based on getting drunk together, and that was it. I have gone to bars with people I genuinely like as a sober person, and I don’t stay for longer than an hour or two if nothing is happening.

• Even if you think boredom eating is circumstantial or temporary, it’s a good idea to try to reign it in.
• If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use, we can help.
• Many people also use drinking to cope with difficult periods in their life, such as the death of a loved one or the end of a romantic relationship.
• Boredom and isolation are known relapse triggers for people with substance use disorders.
• You’ll get to meet new people and be a part of something positive.

Moreover, outpatient rehab can prove to be the most efficient and practical treatment plan for individuals struggling with drinking out of boredom. By practicing self-awareness and reflection, you can develop healthier habits and coping mechanisms to replace boredom drinking. This will help you regain control of your life and improve both your mental and physical health. Stress, anxiety, and loneliness can all be potential triggers for boredom drinking. People may turn to alcohol as a way to cope with these negative emotions, but in doing so, they may be putting their mental health at risk.