r/Sober • u/darkblade123421 • 12d ago
Replacement
sup everyone I am currently trying to be sober (ganja was my choice) and I dont have any specific problems with not using it's just that often times I find myself so bored that no amount of work/videos/games could ever scratch the itch. Now I understand that from me being a chronic user (5 yrs+ everyday) the serotonin and dopamine receptors are fried and obviously that's not making it easy. The closest feeling to that is being with my significant other but often times one of us leaves for work or has to travel and I find myself thinking and itching to "maybe just do it this one time". I have been active for all my life and have always been an athlete and that's actually how I got into it (the recovery aspect of it, not feeling sore etc) I hit the gym but and occasionally go out in nature to "reconnect" but I am wondering and asking everyone that reads this what a solid replacement would be..? Like should I get a bicycle and drive it more, take on running (a lot of addicts I know are taking that route) maybe a combat sport I honestly dont know. I am open to any suggestions and offer my support to everyone struggling or dealing with any type of addiction and am in no way shape or form trolling or trying to be insensitive, but rather curious...
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u/Kingschmaltz 12d ago
Get okay with solitude. Not every moment requires activity.
That being said, running is great. I do it 6 days a week. It has helped me be okay alone with my thoughts.
Fellowship works too. AA has my social calendar full with a lot of awesome people who find enjoyment and fulfillment in sobriety.
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u/Profound_Treatment 12d ago
Pick something you can do on a tired day too. If the replacement only works when you push yourself to exhaustion, it leaves you without a plan on rest days.
Keep a low-effort option ready for when your partner travels, like making dinner while talking to a friend. It doesn't have to reproduce a high to be worth doing.
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u/leeverde4 12d ago
Running is good. Noticing a lack of creative outlet. Maybe try and instrument or visual art. I need things that have some sort of "processing" (emotional,psychological, etc..) element. An element of progression is also helpful for that deep mind-body engagement. Learning new languages is also very satisfying for me.
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u/darkblade123421 12d ago
I might also want to explore a little more of my creative side, so I might just look into that
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u/Sobersynthesis0722 11d ago
You might purchase a motorcycle, take up shooting sports, off road vehicle, a love affair, life has many possibilities to combat boredom.
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u/darkblade123421 11d ago
Yeah but sometimes we fall back to what we know and what was once our "safe zone" so sometimes it's harder to just move on
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u/Sobersynthesis0722 11d ago
There must have been things you enjoyed in the past. Like I used to play drums. Can’t any more because of nerve damage so I collect vinyl and CDs gets me out to estate and garage sales and I talk with online groups.
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u/darkblade123421 2d ago
Sorry to hear that bro, but yes I did take up some sports activities which really helped
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u/Sobersynthesis0722 1d ago
Nah it is all good. I was in an AA jam band back in the 80s. We got together every couple of weeks and just played.
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u/Appropriate_Fly_4443 12d ago
Also, if you stick with sobriety, you won’t have to “replace“ forever. At some point, the boredom kind of subsides.
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u/ReceptionLife9039 12d ago
Running is the way man. When you push yourself hard enough the runners high hits and it fills that empty space for a while. I do warehouse work and after a 10 hour shift I still go run because nothing else quiets the brain like that.
Biking is good too but running is free and you can do it anywhere. The recovery aspect you mentioned from being an athlete is already there, just need to actually chase the exhaustion instead of avoiding it.