Coping with Lonely Moments in Recovery Blog » The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania Inc prevention, intervention, addiction recovery solutions

For people in recovery, that often means attending regular 1Step or other mutual-aid meetings. This is a time to connect to other sober people and it may also be a good time to discuss your feelings of loneliness. Most of the other members will know what you’re talking about.

It can lead to poor sleep, unhealthy diet habits, and trigger substance abuse. People dealing with loneliness are more likely to binge drink and become dependent on alcohol. Over 65% of people who consider themselves heavy drinkers report feeling lonesome often or sometimes. You can write about your thoughts, feelings, and memories that impacted your life. Journaling can help with signs of anxiety, depression and even help you control your substance abuse.

Loneliness and Addiction

Because loneliness is a somewhat widespread issue, there are many people online who are looking for people to connect with. Find people with similar interests by joining Facebook or Meetup groups focused on your passions. Check to see if any apps you use, like fitness or workout apps, have a social element or discussion board to join.

One study suggests that in 2018 at least 22% of adults in the United States struggled with loneliness. Finding ways to volunteer your time and resources will promote a sense of purpose and connection. By taking care of others, you’ll also begin to realize the value of your own life too. Not to mention, the people who volunteer alongside you may quickly become good friends. If you have a relationship with a higher power, doing things like praying, meditating, and just spending time with your higher power can give you inner strength and resilience to cope with loneliness.

The Link Between Loneliness & Substance Abuse

It’s also reassuring to know that strong social support is beneficial for your mental health. Despite any warnings they get about drug or alcohol abuse, people may turn to these substances because they don’t see an end to their loneliness. After all they’ve been through, they may not believe https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-cope-with-loneliness-during-addiction-recovery/ that there’s a way out of their suffering. Perhaps they feel that drugs or alcohol are their only means to improve their moods and give them the energy to get through their days. However, their drug or alcohol abuse may isolate them even further from the people who are still in their lives.

In addition to the title of Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Kevin is also licensed by the state of Maryland as a Clinical Drug and Alcohol Counselor. He holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and has over 26 years of experience as a substance use/mental health counselor with the Montgomery County Government. Whether he’s leading groups or providing individual and family therapy, Kevin’s passion for serving those suffering from substance use disorders is always on display. When he’s not busy treating The Freedom Center’s clientele, you might find Kevin engaged in his other passion as an actor/director in the local theater community. While there are people that can have many friends, some people only manage to have a few friends. People that have a high risk of being addicts or worsening their substance abuse rarely have anyone.

Why Does Loneliness Occur in Sobriety?

There’s hardly a moment in your life when you aren’t interacting with someone else or benefiting from their activities. It’s not surprising, then, that our happiness connects to our relationship with others. Find a class, whether it’s to learn a language, a musical instrument, or a creative art, you’ll meet people. In many cases, the rats that had pressed the lever for drugs for many days and exhibited behaviors that corresponded with human addictive behaviors still elected to engage with their peer. Further studies on both rats and humans have found a link between isolation and substance use, as well as between connectedness, peer pressure, and recreational drug use. Vanessa is certified in addictions counseling by Maryland’s Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, with credentials as a clinical supervisor.

Once the effects of the drugs fade, they return to their uncomfortable reality. Unable to cope, they may turn to the continuous use of drugs to escape, which leads to more severe addiction. These addicts often need help, such as that from Los Angeles CA alcohol rehabilitation centers to get better. After you go through recovery, you may have to distance yourself from former friends who still use alcohol and drugs. Addressing these feelings with positive changes can help you make new connections and avoid a relapse.

For many newcomers, there is a fear of loneliness, especially in their first 30 days clean and sober. When people come to this point, they may be at risk of becoming even more unwell due to their substance abuse. Not only will they become more susceptible to health conditions like kidney and liver problems or brain damage; they may also be increasingly vulnerable to death by suicide. Thus, it becomes all the more necessary to help them envision a future where they are healthy and emotionally fulfilled. Drugs, alcohol, and other dangers to their life must no longer be part of the picture. Loneliness can deal damage to the human body and mind in very real ways.

The key to this is to learn what your own personal signs of loneliness are and then do something about it. For some people, myself included, this can be a daunting task. PRO-ACT offers recovery support services that can help a person with loneliness. These symptoms can also indicate a more significant mental health disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Often, it takes an evaluation from a therapist or mental health professional to diagnose a mental health disorder.

What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Unfortunately, leaving behind reminders of substance abuse may leave you feeling isolated. Take advantage of the skills learned in recovery to engage in meaningful activities and build a new network of friends. As addiction progresses, many addicts find themselves losing the support of their family and friends, as well as damaging their healthy relationships. This may lead them even deeper into isolation, where their entire existence centers around drugs, loneliness and alcohol.

• Relationships play a significant role in our mental and physical health, and unfortunately, addiction tends to damage our relationships with people we love.
• “If somebody discloses to their friends or family, or a GP, that they feel lonely a lot of the time, that could be a warning sign that they are struggling in other areas of life,” said Dr. Timothy Matthews.
• This is proof that you should take loneliness seriously and that you should find a substance abuse helpline if it’s led to something like an addiction.