The past few weeks, one of the clients I have started to work with is a celebrity. This client is through BetterHelp, an online platform offering weekly counseling sessions for a monthly fee. This person works intensely for seven months out of the year. Those other five months, this person has found that they really have nothing to do but does have a whole lot of money, opening up opportunities for poor choices.
Some of these less than desired choices have led to the client becoming active in Alcoholics Anonymous. Some other choices have led to various sexual escapades in which the client decided to seek counseling. One time the client said, “I did not realize the rabbit hole to despair came out of being bored one night.”
Even though this client has millions of dollars to their name, this client has found jobs like driving for Uber and DoorDash just to get of the house and be producing and also to get some limited human interaction. The client has wanted to work on their “people skills” and to better relate to others as this person recognizes who they have become and want to change.
Some of the work has already been done with this client as they have recognized the situations they have been put in and where they want to change. Also, what they recognized is that that “boredom” is a trigger and when they have been bored is when they realize they start to make bad decisions. One of the goals we have set is that when they are bored is to reach out to a person instead of scrolling through a dating app like “Tinder” for a random hookup.
Even if a person is not rich, boredom can be a potential trap. To get out of that feeling of being stuck, a person can make a potential decision to worsen their situation by engaging in illicit behaviors just to change up the current reality whether this leads to excess spending, drinking, drugs or something more damaging.
On the other hand, boredom could be a springboard to change your situation by reaching out to someone that my client is learning to do. One of these people is his sponsor for Alcoholics Anonymous who suggested the jobs with Uber and DoorDash. The client obviously does not need the money, but it has given this person a sense of purpose.
Who can’t relate to being bored? I remember growing up around my parents, my mom was always able to recognize my being bored because she knew I would never say that. That became a springboard for going to see a movie or getting a snack somewhere.
What is your relationship with boredom? Sometimes it helps to have a backup activity to do like reading a book or reaching to a friend
If you are looking for a therapist near you then a Google search is a great way of finding one. I happen to be a therapist in Charlotte, NC but am licensed to counsel anyone in the state of North Carolina. In Google, try looking for “psychotherapist,” “find therapist,” “therapy near me,” or even “counseling charlotte, nc.” If you feel like you have hit a wall you are not able to get past, call me at (704) 458-6298 or email me at jeffhelms@clearerthoughtspllc.com.
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