How Loneliness Fuels Addiction

Loneliness can exacerbate either condition if they are not treated as soon as possible. It is an inarguable fact that loneliness, social isolation, and lack of connectedness How to Cope with Loneliness During Addiction Recovery are a reality in the post-modern, technology- driven, industrialized, 21st century world. When was the last time you spent time together with a friend or family member?

It can give you more energy, promote better sleep, encourage weight loss, improve your mental health, and enhance your overall mood. If you’re feeling lonely, take a walk outside, head to the beach, or slather on the sunscreen for backyard tanning. You may feel happier and more relaxed when you come back inside. A great way to make social connections, improve your mental health, and combat loneliness without alcohol is to begin volunteering in your community. Those who volunteer are constantly interacting with new people and helping others which can make them feel better about themselves.

Turn Your Addiction Into Long Term, Life-changing Sobriety With Clear Life Recovery

Avoid streaming another series alone or sleeping all day; instead, do something new. Take a bike ride through town and invite others to join.

However, once you transition out of formal treatment and continuing care, you will encounter periods when you are all alone. Since these times might represent stressors, it’s essential to have strategies for being alone without feeling lonely.

Struggles of Loneliness in Recovery

Make it a priority to explore new sober social experiences where you mix with others who are also committed to sobriety. Look for some local meetup groups, gyms, and clubs that identify as “sober” or “in the program” and you are sure to make some new connections.

Reach out, attend online meetings, and ask for help whenever you need it. Accept where you’re at (it’s hard, but it’s possible) and start from there. Using coping skills and other tools can help ease your mind, learn to make new friends, and even live in the moment. Seeking help from the right treatment center to beat loneliness and addiction is one effective way. Having someone by your side during such difficult times can make it easier to seek help in the first place. See what needs to be done to confront the underlying problem. The substance abuse may be driven by loneliness caused by separation, death, or failed attempts to integrate with a new social group.

Is Alcohol a Gateway Drug?

It’s also important to be kind to yourself and acknowledge that it’s okay to have these feelings and that learning how to deal with them is the only way to overcome them. It can be challenging to open up to people about your struggles during recovery. This can make people feel isolated and scared when in reality plenty of others are going through the same difficulties. Group therapy sessions during recovery can help to alleviate this issue. These supportive settings allow people to talk about their problems and realize they are not alone. Experiencing loneliness after rehab is often the natural result of making a significant lifestyle change. Toxic relationships must be shed in recovery, which can result in a lack of social interaction.

To start volunteering, reach out to hospitals, animal shelters, or long term care facilities. If you are dealing with loneliness, you are not alone; 3 out of 10 adults in the United States are battling the same phenomenon. Just like a new exercise regimen that improves your health, you can develop a routine to combat loneliness. By building emotional strength and resilience, you will improve your quality of life. Below are 6 ways you can deal with loneliness without alcohol. In English at Georgia State University, has over 5 years of professional writing and editing experience, and over 15 years of overall writing experience.

Benefits of Outpatient Drug and Alcohol Rehab

The tools for dealing with loneliness are ones that you have to formulate yourself. Moreover, the study found alcohol consumption more common in older adults. As a result, one can use alcohol or drugs to find short-term relief. To add, other drugs like cocaine or meth can become a substance of choice to increase low moods, give someone energy, and produce euphoric feelings to combat depression. Once someone has become dependent on harmful drugs like these, professional help is best to relieve the mind and body of cravings and reduce the risk of a fatal or non-fatal overdose. If you’ve entered into an addiction recovery program, it’s essential to address the harmful effects of loneliness.

• They assisted me in finding a job, facilitate my participation in a 12-step program, and keep my family updated on my progress on a regular basis.
• Social support circles also provide you with resources for advice.
• Apologizing for the negative impact substance abuse has had on a relationship can sometimes allow you to regain a support system you value.
• DO NOT label someone as a therapist when they are clearly NOT.

Three Benefits of Adventure Therapy in Recovery Recovery from addiction takes more than just healing the body. Because addiction affects every part of your life–your physical health,…. How Spending Time Outdoors Can Benefit Your Recovery Spending time in nature has been shown to offer many health benefits. Regularly being outdoors can help people feel calmer,…. Going to rehab is scary, but thinking about the cost of rehab can be even scarier. How Can Spending Time in Nature Benefit My Recovery?