When most people think about relapsing, they think about cravings, stress, or being around alcohol. Those are certainly common triggers. But there's another one that often catches people by surprise: boredom. And boredom can sneak up on you. Many people are surprised by how much free time they suddenly have after they stop drinking. [...]
When someone you love stops drinking, it is natural to hope things will get better. You may have spent months or years waiting for this moment. You may have believed that if the drinking stopped, the arguments would stop too. Your partner would become more emotionally available. The tension in your home would ease. [...]
Many people use the words habit and addiction as though they mean the same thing. It's understandable why. Both involve repeated behaviours, and both can become deeply ingrained over time. But there is an important difference. Habits ask for our attention. An addiction demands it. Understanding that difference isn't about applying labels or deciding [...]
