Battling Boredom After Drug Addiction
05/31/19: Drug Addiction \ Relapse Prevention
Overcoming an addiction can be very difficult to do. There are physical and mental ties to the drugs that can cause a lot of turmoil within your body and mind as you try to quit using. A huge issue that arises when someone stops using drugs is boredom. Most addicts don’t realize how much time and energy they invested in using drugs until they stop using. Relapses often occur when people find themselves bored and alone after they quit using drugs. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to battle the boredom that comes after overcoming drug addiction to decrease the chances of relapsing.Talk to Your Friends and Family
If you notice that you feel alone and bored a majority of the time, you need to talk to your friends and family about it. Your support system is there to help you transition back into a life of sobriety and many of them will be more than willing to spend time with you to ensure that you don’t make the mistake of hanging out with the people that you were around when you were using drugs. It’s best to avoid anyone who currently uses drugs or who has the propensity to use drugs to decrease the likelihood of you relapsing.Get a Job that You Love
Many people make the mistake of thinking that they can get a great job that pays a lot of money the second that they stop using drugs. This isn’t the case at all. Most jobs require you to have a skill or training that allows you to do your job efficiently. Most addicts don’t take the time to learn a trade or develop any skills that make them an asset to a company. It’s best to find a job that you love doing and that has the opportunity for advancement. There are many jobs that allow you to work as an internship so that you can learn new skills you need to excel at the career path you choose.Find a Hobby After Drug Addiction
When you use drugs, it doesn’t take much to entertain you. Most drugs create a state of euphoria that allows you to be content watching television for hours or end or simply staring into nothingness caught up in your own thoughts. Once you quit using, you’ll find that you have a lot more time to do whatever you want to do and learning a new hobby can be a great way to entertain yourself and possibly boost your self-esteem. Many addicts feel depressed, lonely and embarrassed that they ever used drugs. Their self-worth becomes greatly depreciated and learning a hobby that allows them to express themselves in a positive way can be helpful. You could learn how to play an instrument, learn an art skill or simply learn how to cook delicious food. You may have to try a few different types of hobbies before finding one that you really like.Join an Athletic Team
Many adults don’t realize that there are many different types of sports readily available to them. They assume that team sports are only available for their kids or for those who play at a professional level. This isn't the case at all though. There are often great football, soccer and even softball teams available for you to join. Contact your local Parks and Recreation Department to find out what support options are available in your area. You often have to pay a fee to play, but you get to practice, play and build relationships with other people in your area who are around your age and have similar interests. Even if you have never played the sport before, if it is appealing to you, you should give it a try.Start an Exercise Routine
Believe it or not, exercise has been shown to boost your self-esteem, build your confidence and improve your health overall. Many people make the mistake of thinking that exercise is an all or nothing activity. You either have to dedicate hours of your day to working out or it simply isn’t worth doing. That isn’t the case, though. You can simply dedicate an hour or so to working out a few days a week to see the benefits of it. It’s best to start off by working with a personal trainer to determine what your goals are and what the best way to achieve them is. You can learn how to use certain workout machines properly and determine if cardio or weight training is the best option to help you reach your goals. It’s important to make sure that all of the equipment is used properly to decrease the chances of you injuring yourself when you work out. It’s best to make sure that you start off slow and work your way up to more vigorous workouts. You want to be sure that you don’t injure yourself and stop working out the second that you feel that something may be wrong. If you were to get injured, there is a chance that the doctor may prescribe you pain pills, which could create a dilemma for you because you don’t want to become addicted to the pain pills but may not be able to handle the pain that you’re in. Being able to find a way to battle your boredom after using drugs is important. If nothing else, you should go to regular support group meetings to talk to others about what steps they took to keep themselves entertained and avoid a relapse. You may be able to learn new and exciting ways to keep yourself entertained, or if nothing else you will at least realize that you aren’t alone in the struggle that you’re facing. Being able to talk to people who understand things from your point of view can give your perspective and realize that you don’t have to give in to temptation and deserve to enjoy the rest of your life to the fullest. Content for Arizona Addiction created by Cohn Media, LLC. Passionate and creative writing and broadcasting, covering the following industries: addiction rehab, health care, entertainment, technology and the food/restaurant industry. Advocate of clear communication, positivity and humanity at its best. www.cohn.mediaIf you or someone you know needs help with addiction, contact 602-737-1619 or email [email protected] to get the help you need. Our acclaimed recovery environment merges upscale, luxury accommodations with affordability, clinical expertise and an unwavering commitment to patient care and aftercare.
