June 19, 2020

Eight Tips for Coping with Boredom in Addiction Recovery

Boredom is a common hazard for people recovering from addiction. Many people suddenly discover they have a lot of free time on their hands when they aren’t using drugs and alcohol, and this may be compounded further by trying to distance yourself from friends who still drink and use drugs. Perhaps the biggest reason boredom is so common is that drugs and alcohol artificially stimulate the brain’s dopamine system, so things that might normally be interesting are just sort of dull. It may take months before the brain changes enough that anything besides drugs and alcohol become interesting again.

In the meantime, boredom can be dangerous because it presents an opportunity to slip up. Indeed, for many people with substance use disorders, drugs and alcohol are the standard solution to boredom. The following are some tips you can use to cope with boredom and keep it from derailing your recovery from addiction.

Remember to apply your emotional regulation skills.

First, if you’ve gone through treatment or therapy for a substance use disorder, you probably learned a number of cognitive and behavioral skills for tolerating discomfort and regulating emotions. These might involve mindfulness or challenging underlying assumptions you have about the situation. Remember that these skills can apply to boredom just as well as other challenging emotions like anxiety or anger. Boredom is a sort of tension you feel when you want to do something, but nothing feels very satisfying. You have the option of exploring this feeling nonjudgmentally, which can make it less distressing, or identifying your faulty assumptions; perhaps thoughts like, “I must feel engaged and entertained at all times.”

Reframe boredom.

We typically feel that boredom is a negative emotion, but, like all emotions, boredom is merely information, a sort of red flag from the less articulate parts of our brain. Your boredom may be trying to tell you something important. Why is it your usual ways of occupying yourself are suddenly inadequate? Is it perhaps time to reevaluate your priorities or reconsider whether your actions are in line with your values? Boredom might be a signal that it’s time to challenge yourself a bit. Boredom can force you to be creative.

Avoid time-killers.

Many of us reach for our phones at the slightest twinge of boredom. You have to stand in this line for two minutes? Better check Facebook. Sitting at a red light? Better scroll through Instagram. While it seems like this is an obvious solution to boredom, it really just papers over the problem. You can mechanically scroll through social media, and although you’re technically doing something, your engagement and satisfaction remain low. You’re not addressing the underlying causes of your boredom, and you may actually be aggravating it. Before you reach for your phone, consider some of the other strategies on this list.

Do some chores.

When you’re bored, chores are probably the last thing you want to do. Chores are boring, which is why we put them off. However, chores have practical value. If your options are to sit there and be bored or wash the dishes and be bored, you can at least accomplish having clean dishes if you choose to wash the dishes. While this may not sound too enticing, picking something off your to-do list and just doing it can break the spell of boredom and lead you to something more engaging.

Try something new.

As noted above, sometimes boredom is a signal that it’s time for a new challenge or a signal that what you’ve been doing doesn’t align with your goals or values. Sometimes the way out is not to rely on the things you normally do but to try something new. It doesn’t have to be a major change. It could be something as trivial as taking a different route to work or taking the first step on a project you’ve been putting off. A new challenge or a break from your normal routine can give you a fresh perspective.

Manage your schedule.

Occasional boredom is unavoidable. Sometimes you get stuck on hold with the insurance company or you have an unexpectedly long wait at the doctor’s office. However, if you find yourself bored regularly, it could be that you’re not managing your time very well. Managing your schedule is always a delicate balancing act: you want to avoid feeling rushed and stressed out, but you also want to avoid large blocks of idle time. This is especially true when you’re recovering from addiction, for the reasons described above. If you seem to find yourself feeling bored at the same time every day or every week, find something to schedule in that time slot—a 12-Step meeting, a therapist’s appointment, a cooking class, exercise; it doesn’t matter, as long as it takes up some of the slack in your schedule with some useful activity.

Have a default activity.

As discussed above, reaching for your phone when you’re bored is a trap, so it might be a good idea to have a more useful default activity ready. Keeping a book handy is always good because you can learn something during those odd moments of free time throughout the day. Other options might include a quick language lesson or vocabulary review, a few rounds of a memory game like Dual N-Back, or knitting. The idea is to train yourself to do something productive in response to boredom, even if you don’t really feel like it.

Stick with a task for a set amount of time.

A typical experience of boredom is that you’ll have plenty of things you could be doing but none of them feel very satisfying. You might read for a few minutes, find it dull, play a video game for a few minutes, but not get into it, sit at the piano and plink out a few sour chords before giving up, and just keep wandering about aimlessly.

When you’re stuck in this sort of pattern, sometimes the best thing to do is just pick an activity and stick with it. It can take a few minutes to settle down and focus, and many activities are not fun or interesting until you get to that point. So the solution is often just to set a timer for 10 minutes or so and just keep working on it for that amount of time no matter what. Once you overcome that initial resistance, you’ll typically find the activity is no longer boring.

Boredom is one of many hazards in early recovery, but it’s not fundamentally different from other challenging emotions. Instead of dreading boredom, try to use it as a time to reflect on your priorities and whether your daily actions are in line with those. If you seem to be bored often, schedule more activities or find yourself a new challenge.

At Enlightened Recovery, we know that overcoming addiction means treating the whole person and helping our clients make meaningful life changes. We teach many skills, including distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and other strategies to help you overcome the challenges you’ll typically face during recovery. For more information, call us today at 833-801-5483 or explore our website.

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If you’re wondering how to choose an addiction recovery program in NJ, begin by asking how each program determines the care you need. A convenient location and an open bed matter, but they do not tell you whether a program can address your withdrawal risks, mental health, and plans for life after treatment.

You also do not need to figure out the right level of care on your own before calling. A thoughtful assessment should help you understand where to start. Use the questions below to compare programs and make the next step feel less overwhelming.

Ask What Happens During the Assessment

An admissions call may begin with basic questions about insurance and availability. Before you commit to treatment, find out how the program assesses your needs and who makes the clinical recommendation.

You should have an opportunity to discuss the substances you use, when you last used them, any previous withdrawal symptoms, medications, physical health concerns, and past treatment experiences. The conversation should also cover how substance use is affecting your daily life. For example, are you having trouble staying safe at home, getting to work, or caring for yourself? Are depression, anxiety, trauma, or other mental health concerns involved?

Ask the admissions team:

Who conducts the clinical assessment?
Will you assess whether I need medical support during withdrawal?
How do you decide which level of care is appropriate?
What happens if I need a service you do not provide?
When will my treatment plan be reviewed?

You should understand the reason behind the recommendation, even if you are hearing unfamiliar treatment terms for the first time. SAMHSA recommends looking for quality care that responds to a person’s needs and includes appropriate treatment and recovery support.

Compare Levels of Care, Not Just Facilities

The word “rehab” can describe very different experiences. One person may need supervised detox before beginning treatment. Another may be ready for an outpatient schedule that lets them live at home. A clinical assessment helps determine an appropriate starting point, and that recommendation may change as treatment progresses.

When comparing addiction recovery programs in New Jersey, ask what each level of care involves:

Detox provides support during withdrawal. Ask what medical supervision is available, which substances the program is equipped to address, and how the team helps people move into ongoing treatment afterward.
Residential treatment provides a structured setting where people live during care. Ask what a typical day includes, how long stays are determined, and how treatment goals are reviewed.
Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) provide structured treatment without the same overnight stay as residential care. Ask about the weekly schedule, attendance requirements, and whether the program fits your transportation, work, or family responsibilities.
Standard outpatient care generally involves a less intensive schedule. Ask how the team determines whether that amount of support is sufficient for you.

A program does not have to offer every service at one address. It should, however, explain what happens if you need to move to another level of care. New Jersey’s addiction services treatment directory is another way to explore licensed treatment options by service type. www.nj.gov

Ask How Mental Health Fits Into Treatment

For many people, substance use is only part of the story. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental health concerns may affect recovery and deserve attention during treatment.

If this sounds familiar, ask more than “Do you treat dual diagnosis?” Find out what that care looks like. Who assesses mental health symptoms? Are mental health professionals involved throughout treatment? How are existing psychiatric medications reviewed? Can the team coordinate with a therapist or prescriber you already see?

Be as open as you can about your concerns during the assessment. If you are worried that mentioning mental health symptoms could complicate admission, ask directly how the program would respond. That answer can help you judge whether the team is prepared to support your full set of needs.

At Enlightened Recovery, our New Jersey services include care for people facing both substance use and mental health challenges. Our admissions team can discuss your situation and help identify an appropriate starting point. You can also learn more about our Egg Harbor City addiction recovery program in New Jersey.

Picture What a Typical Week Would Be Like

Treatment descriptions often list individual therapy, groups, and other services. Ask someone to walk you through what those services mean in practice.

How often would you meet with a clinician individually? What topics do groups cover? How does the team adjust care if you are struggling or making progress? If involving family would be helpful, ask whether family therapy is available and how you decide who participates.

Practical questions belong in this conversation, too. If you are considering residential care, ask what to bring, how communication with loved ones works, and what the first few days are like. For outpatient care, ask about session times, missed appointments, and transportation. Knowing what to expect can make it easier to choose a program you can realistically attend and engage with.

Discuss Aftercare Before You Enroll

Getting into treatment can feel urgent. Planning for what comes next may seem like a distant concern, but it is an important question to raise early.

Ask when aftercare planning begins and who helps coordinate it. Depending on your needs, a plan may include a step down to outpatient treatment, appointments with a therapist or prescriber, recovery meetings, family support, or help with housing and transportation. If you will return to a home environment where substance use is common, tell the team so you can discuss it together.

At Enlightened Recovery, our New Jersey continuum includes detox, residential, and outpatient options. Ask admissions how care transitions and aftercare planning would work for your circumstances.

Get Clear Answers About Cost and Next Steps

Before enrolling, ask for an insurance benefits check and an explanation of expected costs. Find out whether the program is in network, what your plan may cover, whether prior authorization is needed, and what you may owe in deductibles, copays, or other charges. If you do not have insurance, ask what payment options or referrals are available.

You can compare options through independent resources as well. ReachNJ connects New Jersey residents with treatment referrals and other support regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. www.nj.gov

Choosing an addiction recovery program does not require a perfect decision made in one phone call. Start by explaining what is happening, asking how the program would assess your needs, and listening for clear answers about treatment and continued support. Contact Enlightened Recovery to discuss addiction treatment options in New Jersey and what the admissions process could look like for you.

If you are wondering how to help someone with addiction in New Jersey, begin with a calm, specific conversation and a practical offer of support. You cannot make another person accept treatment, but you can explain what you have noticed, listen to their concerns, and help them explore options. Families often wait for the perfect words. There may be none. A conversation grounded in care and concrete observations is more useful than trying to win an argument about whether someone has an addiction.

Being unsure about rehab does not necessarily mean a person is unwilling to change. They may recognize that alcohol or drugs are causing problems but feel frightened by withdrawal, embarrassed to ask for help, or uncertain about leaving home. You do not need to resolve every concern in one conversation. Your first goal is to make it possible to keep talking.

Choose a Time When You Can Both Talk

Avoid starting a serious treatment discussion during an argument or when the person is intoxicated. Choose a private moment when you can give them your attention without rushing to work or managing other demands. If several family members share your concerns, decide who has the closest, safest relationship with the person. A room full of worried relatives can feel overwhelming.

Describe what concerns you without turning the conversation into a list of accusations. You might say, “I’m worried because you’ve missed work twice this month after drinking, and you seemed frightened this morning. I want to help you find out what kind of support is available.” Then make room for an answer.

Use questions that invite more than a yes or no response: “What feels hardest about getting help?” or “What would you want a treatment program to understand about you?” The person may be worried about withdrawal, cost, privacy, leaving work, or what treatment will be like. Listening does not mean you agree with every response. It helps you understand which concern needs an answer. SAMHSA recommends listening without judgment and recognizing the person’s strengths when discussing help.

Respond to the Concern Behind “I’m Not Ready”

If your loved one says they are not ready for rehab, ask what “not ready” means to them. Someone who fears withdrawal may need to speak with a medical professional about whether detox is appropriate. Someone who worries about work may want to understand the time commitment of different treatment options. A parent may need to make a childcare plan before considering residential care.

Avoid promising that treatment will be easy or that one program will solve everything. Offer to help them gather accurate information. You could say, “We can call and ask questions. You do not have to decide everything before we know what the options are.”

It can also help to ask what they do want to change. They may not be prepared to discuss rehab, but they may want to sleep better, stop missing work, or feel more present with their family. Those goals can open a more useful discussion than arguing over a label.

Offer One Manageable Next Step

“Go to rehab” can sound overwhelming to someone who has not even spoken with a local New Jersey treatment provider. A smaller offer may be easier to consider:

Sit together while they call an admissions team.
Help write down questions about detox or treatment.
Offer to help verify insurance benefits.
Arrange a ride to an assessment if they agree.
Ask what kind of support they would accept today.

An assessment can help clarify what level of care may fit the person’s needs. Depending on their situation, the discussion may cover substance use, physical health, mental health, safety, and previous treatment experiences. The right next step is individual; it should not be decided solely by what worked for someone else.

You can seek information for yourself, too. New Jersey’s ReachNJ service connects residents with substance use treatment information and referrals. Its family resources also point loved ones toward support, including NJ Connect for Recovery.

Keep the Door Open if They Decline

A refusal today does not have to end the conversation. You can say, “I hear that you don’t want to call right now. I care about you, and I’m willing to talk again.” Then follow through without bringing up treatment at every encounter.

Pay attention to what changes. If the person later mentions feeling sick, missing an important event, or worrying about their use, ask whether they would like help exploring options. Avoid treating a difficult moment as an opportunity to say, “I told you so.” Shame can make an already difficult conversation harder.

You may feel an urge to research every facility, arrange transportation, and set a date before the person has agreed to anything. Gathering information can help, but leave room for their questions and participation. Treatment planning is more useful when the person can describe their own concerns and goals.

Be Clear About Your Own Boundaries

Support does not require you to hide substance use, provide money you cannot afford, or accept behavior that makes your home unsafe. State boundaries in terms of what you will do: “I can help you make a treatment call, but I cannot give you money for alcohol.”

Try to make boundaries realistic and consistent. You might decide that you will not let someone drive your car while impaired or that you will leave a conversation if they become threatening. If you share a home or care for children together, a counselor or other qualified professional can help you plan a difficult conversation and identify support for everyone affected.

Boundaries and compassion can coexist. You can care deeply about someone while taking steps to protect your finances, children, health, and safety.

Take Immediate Danger Seriously

If someone is unconscious, cannot be awakened, is breathing slowly, or may be experiencing an overdose, call 911. If an opioid overdose is possible and naloxone is available, administer it according to its instructions while emergency help is on the way. Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, but the person still needs emergency attention.

If the person drinks heavily and is concerned about withdrawal, encourage them to discuss it with a medical professional before trying to stop on their own. For a nonemergency treatment conversation, the goal is different: make it easier to take the next step without shame.

Find Support for the Whole Family

A loved one’s treatment decision may take time. Your need for guidance does not have to wait. Ask providers about family education, available support, and how to respect your loved one’s privacy while staying involved. You may also benefit from your own counselor or a family support group, particularly if substance use has affected trust or daily life at home.

Enlightened Recovery’s main campus in Egg Harbor City serves people seeking addiction treatment in South Jersey, with options that include detox, residential, and outpatient care.

Contact our team to ask what an initial assessment involves, which services may fit your loved one’s needs, and how you can support them as they explore treatment.

It is very common to see a friend pass out after a night of heavy drinking. The Centers for Disease Control says that six people die every day from alcohol poisoning. Instead of assuming that your friend needs to sleep off the alcoholic effects, it is important for you to treat him or her to better save their life from alcohol poisoning.

Reasons People Pass Out When Drunk

Alcohol is a depressant that impacts the central nervous system which consists of your brain and spinal cord. This explains why heavy drinking causes you to make poor judgments as well as having trouble staying alert. Alcohol tends to release a huge amount of dopamine which is what makes you feel good. But the more you drink, the more your body builds up adenosine which makes you tired. Alcohol also affects the neurotransmitter glutamate which affects your brain function where you have trouble with your breathing and heart rate, making alcohol intoxication more dangerous. You could be drunk and hit your head and feel like you are fine to drive until you crash your car and choke on your own vomit.

If you spend time with someone who drinks four or more drinks in one sitting, you should inform them about how many drinks can result in a dangerous blood alcohol count. A standard beer is 12 ounces, wine is five ounces, and 80 proof spirits like rum or tequila is 1.5 ounces. Keep in mind how much your friend has eaten and how your body metabolizes alcohol.

What to Do If Your Friend Does Not Wake Up

It is easy to wake someone up if they are simply sleeping off their alcohol. Someone unconscious as a result of the alcohol can be harder. Susan Stoner, Ph.D., a research consultant at the University of Washington Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, says that if calling your friend’s name and rubbing their shoulders does not work, rub their sternum with your knuckles or pinch their earlobes to cause a little pain to wake them up. If they are still not responsive, they are most likely unconscious and could be at risk of death.

Other signs that your friend has overdosed on alcohol and needs medical attention is if they have clammy skin, confusion, pale skin, low body temperature, seizures, vomiting, trouble breathing, pausing for ten or more seconds between breaths, and reduced physical responses like the lack of a gag reflex that prevents choking. Do not take too long to decide whether or not to call 911 as not doing anything can increase your friend’s chances of death. Check for if your friend is breathing or able to respond to any of your attempts at waking them up. If your friend is vomiting while unconscious, turn your friend to their side or forward so that they do not choke. When emergency responders come, tell them everything that they need to know about your friend such as how much they drank, the kind of alcohol, any other drugs, a certain medical condition they have, and anything else that can be helpful for medical professionals to treat your friend.

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Start the Path to Recovery at Englightened Recovery in New Jersey

Taking the first step toward change can feel uncertain, yet the right environment can provide clarity and direction. At Enlightened Recovery, each person is met with compassion, respect, and guidance tailored to their unique needs. Our team works closely with you to create a plan that supports both immediate stability and long-term progress. Reach out today to begin building a healthier, more grounded future.

Look After Your Friend

Alcohol is going to continue to leak from your friend’s stomach and small intestine into their bloodstream, causing their blood alcohol level to rise even after they have stopped drinking. If you think that your friend is simply sleeping off the alcohol, you may return hours later to see that your friend has stopped breathing or has choked on their own vomit. To see for sure if your friend is suffering from alcohol poisoning, check if they have impaired speech or motor skills, cannot drive, poor decision making, blacking out, vomiting, or losing consciousness. As soon as you notice these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

You should also make sure not to leave your friend alone. If this is happening at a party with a lot of people, you want to make sure that someone is not going to come along and take advantage of your friend through sexual assault. Do not be afraid to take you and your friend away from the situation by driving your friend home. If someone dropped you off to the party, call your ride or call a Lyft or an Uber to pick you and your friend up. Make sure that your location settings are on and to always have your phone charged.

How to Avoid Passing Out From Alcohol

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines says that drinking in moderation means that women should be drinking no more than one drink a day and no more than two drinks for men. In order to stay as safe as possible from passing out drunk, you should switch between an alcoholic beverage and a glass of water. The same goes for food as you should not have only alcohol in your system. Eat before and while you are drinking so that you do not absorb the alcohol too quickly. Only have no more than one drink every hour. You should also make sure that you communicate with your friend of how many drinks should be the limit. If you are both aware of what your body can and cannot handle, do not increase the number of drinks. By not leaving your friend alone and calling 911 if your friend passes out, you could be saving a life.

Alcohol Detox and Rehab in New Jersey

An alcohol poisoning emergency may also reveal a larger pattern of dangerous drinking. If your friend regularly drinks heavily, experiences blackouts, cannot control how much they consume, or continues drinking despite serious consequences, they may be struggling with alcohol abuse or alcohol use disorder. Once the immediate emergency has been addressed, encourage them to speak with an addiction treatment professional. They should not attempt to stop drinking suddenly without medical guidance, since alcohol withdrawal can cause seizures, hallucinations, delirium tremens, and other life-threatening complications.

Enlightened Recovery provides alcohol detox and rehab programs in New Jersey for individuals who need professional support to stop drinking and begin building a healthier life. The appropriate level of care depends on the person’s drinking history, withdrawal risk, physical health, mental health symptoms, home environment, and previous treatment experiences.

Medical alcohol detox offers a supervised setting where trained professionals can monitor withdrawal symptoms, help manage discomfort, and respond if complications develop. Detox gives the body time to stabilize, but it is only the beginning of the recovery process. After completing detox, clients may transition into residential alcohol rehab or another appropriate level of care for continued treatment.

Enlightened Recovery’s alcohol rehab program combines evidence-based therapies with holistic healing and recovery-focused support. Treatment may include individual counseling, group therapy, relapse-prevention education, family involvement, mental health services, and practical strategies for handling stress and alcohol cravings. When alcohol abuse occurs alongside anxiety, depression, trauma, or another mental health condition, integrated treatment can address both concerns as part of the same recovery plan.

Located in Southern New Jersey, Enlightened Recovery offers a supportive environment where individuals can step away from the people, places, and pressures associated with drinking. The goal is not only to help clients stop using alcohol, but also to help them understand the factors contributing to their drinking and develop skills that support lasting recovery.

If you or someone you care about needs help for alcohol abuse, Enlightened Recovery is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call our admissions team to learn more about alcohol detox and rehab in New Jersey, discuss available treatment options, and begin the admissions process.

If someone is unconscious, breathing abnormally, having a seizure, or showing signs of alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately rather than attempting to transport them yourself.

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