Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 12:03     Subject: Re:Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So we don’t get off track calling OP names.

Stages of alcohol use -> alcoholism

Social drinking - healthy
Habitual drinking - unhealthy
Daily or binge drinking - alcohol abuse
Addicted to alcohol - Alcoholism

OP has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.


This should be a DCUM sticky note on every alcohol thread.

Thanks.


Those are completely unhelpful made up categories. “Habitual” and “daily” drinking are not unhealthy or alcohol abuse by definition. And what does “addicted to alcohol” mean? Kind of begging the question there …

If you’re concerned about your alcohol use, take this screening:

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/CheckYourDrinking/index.html?s_cid=NCCDPHP_google_search_drinkless_uc_SL1

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 12:02     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well, my husband didn't get sober, probably because life without alcohol was boring to him. He died at age 46. So, there are worse things than being bored.


Jeez. I’m sorry to hear that. Cirrhosis?


Thank you. And yes.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 12:00     Subject: Re:Being sober is boring as hell
I’d 1st look at what days and time/ triggers you have.

I have to drink beer when I eat crabs.
I need a glass of wine with dinner.

I don’t drink during the week but I binge on the weekends.

What is the issue?

Perhaps if you use alcohol to reduce anxiety you need some DBT to replace drinking. Go for a walk, garden, bake, etc

Is it habitual?
Is it an anxiety response?
Is it really just to fill bordome?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:58     Subject: Re:Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:So we don’t get off track calling OP names.

Stages of alcohol use -> alcoholism

Social drinking - healthy
Habitual drinking - unhealthy
Daily or binge drinking - alcohol abuse
Addicted to alcohol - Alcoholism

OP has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.


This should be a DCUM sticky note on every alcohol thread.

Thanks.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:56     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been drinking too much for about 3 or 4 years. I now have to stop due to pretty bad GI issues that I’m fairly certain were caused by drinking.

It’s just so boring! I know I need to pickup some hobbies, but how long does this last? I’ve been trying to cut back, with varying success for about a year. I have a terrible attitude about quitting when I don’t want to quit.

Anyone who’s BTDT have any idea how long this lasts? I’ve been mostly alcohol-free for more than 2 weeks.


That just confirms you are an alcoholic.


Lol no it’s not.


Denial is step what?


Sorry you were raised by an alcoholic, get therapy for that.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:56     Subject: Re:Being sober is boring as hell
So we don’t get off track calling OP names.

Stages of alcohol use -> alcoholism

Social drinking - healthy
Habitual drinking - unhealthy
Daily or binge drinking - alcohol abuse
Addicted to alcohol - Alcoholism

OP has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:56     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been drinking too much for about 3 or 4 years. I now have to stop due to pretty bad GI issues that I’m fairly certain were caused by drinking.

It’s just so boring! I know I need to pickup some hobbies, but how long does this last? I’ve been trying to cut back, with varying success for about a year. I have a terrible attitude about quitting when I don’t want to quit.

Anyone who’s BTDT have any idea how long this lasts? I’ve been mostly alcohol-free for more than 2 weeks.


That just confirms you are an alcoholic.


Lol no it’s not.


Denial is step what?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:55     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:Well, my husband didn't get sober, probably because life without alcohol was boring to him. He died at age 46. So, there are worse things than being bored.


Jeez. I’m sorry to hear that. Cirrhosis?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:54     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
OP, I don’t know what “too much” was for you, but my drinking (which escalated during the pandemic) started negatively affecting my life in more ways than one. I enrolled myself in a 12-week intensive outpatient treatment and have been actively replacing my old habits with new habits. I’ve listed above the number of things I’ve been consciously working on adding into my life.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:53     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
I second the advice to go out and do something after dinner. When I really cut back on my drinking I would do a nice long walk with a podcast, go to target, exercise, read, or just take a melatonin and go to bed super early.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:53     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been drinking too much for about 3 or 4 years. I now have to stop due to pretty bad GI issues that I’m fairly certain were caused by drinking.

It’s just so boring! I know I need to pickup some hobbies, but how long does this last? I’ve been trying to cut back, with varying success for about a year. I have a terrible attitude about quitting when I don’t want to quit.

Anyone who’s BTDT have any idea how long this lasts? I’ve been mostly alcohol-free for more than 2 weeks.


That just confirms you are an alcoholic.


Lol no it’s not.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:52     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been drinking too much for about 3 or 4 years. I now have to stop due to pretty bad GI issues that I’m fairly certain were caused by drinking.

It’s just so boring! I know I need to pickup some hobbies, but how long does this last? I’ve been trying to cut back, with varying success for about a year. I have a terrible attitude about quitting when I don’t want to quit.

Anyone who’s BTDT have any idea how long this lasts? I’ve been mostly alcohol-free for more than 2 weeks.


I stopped recently for different reasons and have thrown myself into exercise, reading, and being fully present with my kids. Lots of board games, family movies, etc.

Good luck — You’re doing great.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:52     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Well, my husband didn't get sober, probably because life without alcohol was boring to him. He died at age 46. So, there are worse things than being bored.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:52     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
Anonymous wrote:Hostile responses to something obvious that, even OP acknowledged it.


Finding sobriety boring doesn't make one an alcoholic. The lack of control around drinking or actively craving alcohol makes one an alcoholic. That's why OP agreed.

OP needs to create new ways to spend free time. If all you do in your free time is drink, and now you don't drink, you will likely be bored. That's a natural occurrence to removing anything that took up a lot of time.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2023 11:51     Subject: Being sober is boring as hell
If you were a ritual drinker (like wine in the evening to wind down), replace it with something else (tea, a walk, ice cream, trolling DCUM, whatever floats your boat).

Also, after you stop drinking for awhile, you will feel like absolute garbage when you do drink. That alone will be an incentive to stay sober.