Boredom and Addiction

Research has shown that many substance addicts and alcoholics abuse drugs and alcohol because they are bored. Whether it is moving to a new city and not making friends right away or feeling like you are stuck in a job that is going nowhere; some individuals turn to drugs and alcohol to break their boredom. When you realize that your addiction exists from boredom and that you need help, you are taking a step in the direction of getting better.

The Psychology behind Boredom

Boredom is multidimensional and it affects people differently and interacts with substance abuse. Psychologists agree that it is important to understand where boredom begins and how it works to take over in a person’s life. Some psychologists propose that in most cases boredom is the result of change such as an individual’s ambition or goals. For example, the individual may work toward specific career goals but then they encounter hurdles that they cannot get past. In the process, the new goals do not hold the same deep meaning and the individual may become complacent in their own life.

Boredom Can Wreck Sobriety

When boredom becomes a factor, the individual will begin to seek out ways to escape the boredom and most of the time, the answer is drugs and alcohol. An Ohio State University study revealed that individuals lean towards drug abuse that entertains them and makes their life interesting. In the study, a vast amount of individuals abused Marijuana because they said that it allowed them to focus more directly, while others used hallucinogens because they made sound colorful.
Drug and alcohol abusers avoid boredom through emotional power including happiness, sadness, and anger; the only requirement is that the emotion is intense and dramatic. Drug addicts have the ability to turn any situation or circumstance into a conspiracy theory and that convince themselves that everyone is out to get them.

Substance abusers prefer to begin tasks or projects, but in many cases they do not finish them because working through a project or task is boring to them. It is not uncommon for addicts and alcoholics to create a situation or crisis where there is no problem because drama is an escape from boredom.

Keeping Boredom in Check

Many psychologists suggest that setting a goal and setting aside a determined amount of time each day to work toward the goal is the best way to avoid boredom. To be effective, the goal has to be a goal that offers deep personal meaning to them and it needs to be progressively challenging in order to prevent boredom. Goals that are repetitive are likely to become boring and allow the individual to become easily distracted. Psychologists further suggest that individuals without goals wander aimlessly through their life without accomplishing or succeeding in anything.