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Battling Bordom That Comes W/ Sobriety

bipolar-sunshine

bipolar-sunshine

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 2, 2016
Messages
129
Location
Mid-South, U.S.
I've recently decided to quit using drugs (coke & any opiate I could get my hands on,) mainly for financial reasons, as I have always been a highly functioning addict. I always had justttttt enough self-control to make sure I stayed employed, paid my bills on time, had a place to live, most people didn't know I was using, etc. I was using opiates (most of the time, roxies,) daily, and if I couldn't get any of those, I'd buy a dub or half g of coke. Now why was I abusing the pills? I would attribute it to mainly self-medicating before I started on psychotropic drugs. The coke on the other hand was always a filler for me because I couldn't stand to spend the whole day sober. So as you can imagine, the combination of $30 roxies (that I would have to take two of...) or spending $30 a day on coke fucked me financially, but like I said, just to the point where I could still pay what I had to pay for like rent and whatnot.

The problem with staying sober is I find myself quite easily getting bored and as most of you know, boredom can really hurt with staying sober, especially for me. I try to keep as busy as possible, but sometimes I just end up with downtime and this is really what fucks me over.

So I guess what I'm really asking is does anyone have any suggestions to help with staying sober when the boredom creeps in and then cravings following. I've deleted my dealers number but I have little self-control and I could use Facebook to get it back and this worries me as well as I need to save up to pay off some credit card debt and student loans and the like.

Any tips or support is appreciated.
 
What do you like to do for fun? Do you have any passions or hobbies or anything that has ever just made you feel blissed out besides getting high?
 
You need to find activities you enjoy that you can spend your time on. It's as simple (and as complicated) as that, really.
 
Do you enjoy music, reading or movies? Try going on walks out in nature for as little as 30 to 60 minutes a few days a week. It does wonders for depression. As does music, good books and inspiring films :)
 
I totally understand. Do you have a friend or someone who you can ask about hanging out with to go on a nice easy stroll out in nature somewhere? Even just going on a stroll in the city, as long as you're comfortable and find the environment not to activating, is good enough for now.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm still struggling with boredom, I'm already the type of person if I'm not doing anything, I get bored extremely easily, so being sober now just makes it worse. But I seriously appreciate the good vibes guys. Thank you!
 
Discovering new activities you find pleasurable and cultivating non-drugged out blessed out states of being is probably the most challenging and most satisfying aspect of recovery. I actually found psychedelics entheogens like DXM, MDMA, mushrooms and LSD very helpful in that regard.

We wish you nothing but safety, happiness, good health and a life of ease bipolar-sunshine :) <3
 
The boredom in early sobriety is rough. In the past that boredom caused me to relapse on more than one occasion. Depression is quite come as well in early recovery - it eventually gets better. Your body is going through a lot of adjustments, and the longer you stay sober for the your body will balance out.

I know you don't really feel like doing anything, but force yourself to go out for a walk - at least an hour a day when the sun is out. This will help you in several regards - it will get you out of your environment and engage your senses, the sunlight acts as a pick me up, as does the exercise. For the next week force yourself to do this - it will help motivate you to engage in other activities as well.

If you are really adverse to going for a walk force yourself to do something - ideally out of your house. Consider taking an evening class - in my early recovery my husband enrolled us in ballroom dance class as he knew I used to dance when I was younger. We started doing that on Monday nights, and then we started going to dance socials on the weekends. After a while I started looking forward to it, and I enjoyed being active. It gave me something to look forward to and it helped my recovery as I was learning a new skill.

Alternatively are there any sports you used to enjoy playing? Consider picking one up again. I quit playing golf at 17 when I started drugs and alcohol, and picked golf back up when I got sober. My game is terrible but I love going out of the weekends and being in nature and focusing on something challenging. I absolutely suck at the game now, but it gives me something to work on without being to serious.

Something else I started doing when ingot sober was extreme couponing. I was a functional addict as well and never lost my home and always had a decent job (until I got sober, now I'm trying to start a new career), but my addiction and subsequent recovery really put my family in a huge financial bind. I learned to coupon and now all household items are free or virtually free and the same with out grocery staples. It's actually pretty fun, it consumes time, and it's productive. I've gotten over $350 in organic groceries for under $20.

Other things that helped me stay active in early recovery was cooking all my meals instead of going out. I also began an exercise regime aside from walking, and made a pointing learning about nutrition. I started always having one active household project, from pressure washing the driveway, porch, and deck to repairing the interior. I have continued with these habits so right now I have completely disassembled the master bathroom shower stall and am regrouting the the tile. I make lists of things that need to be done and rank them by time involved and difficulty so I always have something to work on depending on how much time I have available.

Ironically the best thing for you right now is a set and active schedule - try to force yourself to be busy even if it's only cooking or housework. This feeling of boredom goes away soon enough - just give it some time. Good luck!
 
bipolar-sunshine said:
Well I am depressed as well, so it's hard to find things I enjoy. Drugs have always been my hobby...
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Me too, drugs were my hobby and an escape from being depressed all the time... some days I feel like saying 'screw it' and go back to them even with my health problems.

TV/ movies / video games take up a good deal of time if you don't feel like going outside or if the weather sucks. Lots of articles on the internet to read or go to a library. Podcasts or audiobooks if your eyes are tired... I like the 'stuff you should know' podcast. Or get one of those colouring books and put on some music.
Learn how to code?
Could also get into indoor gardening as well.

Best of luck.
 
toothpastedog said:
Do you enjoy music, reading or movies? Try going on walks out in nature for as little as 30 to 60 minutes a few days a week. It does wonders for depression. As does music, good books and inspiring films :)
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Do this. Or take classes, get out and socialize with people in public in a place where you don't have to spend money or will not use alcohol or any other drugs or wind up meeting people who do or who are dealers. Stay off of Facebook.

Joining a gym can be useful, and like someone else said learning about nutrition and cooking recipes you find on the internet will be helpful to you.

You wrote how you need money can you find a part time job and save up money to pay off debt?

Good luck.
 
I've been doing some freelance writing about 2-3 times a week for some extra cash. I lost my main job and my main source of income about a month and a half ago and I've been so bored ever since.....

Also, the problem is I used to enjoy those things you suggested, but I just don't find pleasure in much anymore. I'm just like "this is okay I guess." If that makes sense.
 
bipolar-sunshine said:
I've been doing some freelance writing about 2-3 times a week for some extra cash. I lost my main job and my main source of income about a month and a half ago and I've been so bored ever since.....

Also, the problem is I used to enjoy those things you suggested, but I just don't find pleasure in much anymore. I'm just like "this is okay I guess." If that makes sense.
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You can only enjoy something for so long. Its normal. After I'm done watching series, or beat the game, I'm bored with it. Back to square one.
 
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