Currently everything (exaggeration - but some things) seems dull and boring. I realise a lot of this is activities I have previously paired with alcohol, which was a lot of things, most social things. Now doing these things sober just seems dull. I feel like I’m also being dull when I’m with new people as I’m not being myself. I remember when I quit smoking I had a similar phase where I continued to do everything but without the cigarettes and it all just felt grey and crap. I’m assuming on a brain level this is cause I’ve been used to pairing all these activities with a dopamine hit and now I’ve got nothing. With the smoking after a while the colour did come back into my life and I started enjoying things again - but just wondering with alcohol how long does this take? Appreciate there isn’t a set answer but just interested to hear if others have felt a similar experience after quitting & if/when it changed.
At 4.5 months without alcohol I can say that I genuinely experience joy when doing things I would’ve also normally paired with alcohol.
I still have moments. Last night for example, I carved a pumpkin and did some holiday baking. Things I would’ve LOVED to indulge in that liquid inspiration that’s seems to heighten my emotions, good or bad.
I thought about it for a moment, how it felt a little dull and not as exciting, but I told myself that I’m just retraining my brain’s reward system.
I managed to still enjoy it and lucky me, I woke up hangover free 
Like you mentioned, it’s probably different for everyone, I keep thinking maybe I’ll find a better balance after much more time in sobriety.
I’ll let you in on a little secret that may help, @Pamela… Non-addicts sometimes find their life dull and boring too. They just have coping mechanisms (sitting with it, going for a walk, listening to music, watching mindless television, cleaning the house) that are ever so slightly less self-destructive than turning to things that give an instant buzz, whatever form that takes.
Life isn’t all high energy/dopamine/adrenaline, even though social media would have us believe it is. Heck, my grandma used to spend her dull and boring time fixing holes in family members’ socks!
What’s the point in life at all, Life without alcohol is shite!!!
I couldn’t do anything bc everything I did involved a bottle beside me. Then slowly I automatically started to find different activities to pass the time and these began to replace the highs of substances. Now with all the money I’ve saved from not drinking or drugging a weekend away at short notice, that dream concert I wanted to go to, that mountain I wanted to walk up… Only 2 days ago I found myself in a rowing boat with my partner in a huge lake, I’ve never rowed a boat in my life. Give everything time and it will all happen just as it should.
God knows where you might find yourself bc the possibilities of sobriety are endless.
I wish you well on your journey 
Yes that’s how I feel a lot of the time. Doing things I would have loved before and now they just seem a bit dull. But I think I just have to accept that’s how it’s going to be fit a while and hope that it gets easier over time!
Thank you. Hopefully over time I can find new things I enjoy as much or hopefully more than when I was drinking. I feel a bit dead inside at the moment but hopefully that will pass.
I’ll tell ya I still have moments where life seems a bit boring then I step outside and remember that I am the party no drug or alcohol needed lol. This will pass and come and go but like they said above sober is better. No hangovers or setting around wondering who you got pissed off at you from your last drink. 
Yes maybe feeling things are a bit boring is a small price to pay to not have an the anxiety and fear of bad things happening when drunk!
Yes exactly 
My take is: How long it takes depends on you.
When you can sit, with just yourself, for an indefinite amount of time and be at complete peace, will you be able to enjoy the most mundane parts of life.
This takes practice, like… a lot of practice. Meditation can be a huge help!
There is a movie that demonstrates this philosophy beautifully, it’s called The Sound of Metal; it’s about a deaf drummer who’s also a recovering addict, and his journey to find peace within himself. I definitely recommend checking it out.
