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The best way to beat loneliness is obviously to have regular social connections. 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’s not uncommon for people to feel lonely when starting out in addiction recovery.
If things have been going on for a while and not resolving or the desire to use substances does not go away, it might be time to reach out and ask for additional help. There is no shame in admitting the need for extra support. In time, things will get better and recovery will seem easier. Having negative and positive feelings is okay, even if it is at the same moment. A person can feel joy and elation while also feeling desperation to connect out of a sense of isolation. Lonely feelings don’t have to drive a person into a depressive state they cannot recover from.
Without a support system, it can be difficult to break the cycle of addiction. People who are experiencing loneliness may turn to drugs to cope with the negative feelings caused by a lack of connection with others. One way to overcome loneliness is to reframe https://stylevanity.com/2023/07/top-5-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-sober-house.html what it means to be alone. It only feels bad when we prefer to be around other people but can’t be for some reason. As with many things in life, it’s not the situation itself that makes you feel bad but rather what you tell yourself about the situation.
Once in recovery, you may feel as if you destroyed all your relationships and, as a result, you may feel very lonely. Restoring relationships with the ones you care about is an important step to relieving isolation. Being patient and optimistic during this transitional phase is key to minimizing feelings of loneliness. By seeking treatment for addiction and reconnecting with their loved ones, people who are struggling with addiction can begin to rebuild their lives and heal their relationships. Another cause of addiction and isolation is an addict’s desire to hide their addiction from their friends and family. This can be the result of wanting to avoid feeling judged or scolded by family members.
This is similar to connecting with yourself and is something you likely learned in cognitive behavioral therapy sessions. In order to deal with your feelings of loneliness and depression, you have to confront them and recognize them. The inability to do this is often why people begin using drugs or alcohol in the first place. The substances mask and disguise the uncomfortable emotions. To deal with these emotions in a healthy way, you have to confront them and then accept them. After you get sober, it takes time and effort to restore broken relationships.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has been providing mental health services for over 10 years. An AA sponsor will provide one-on-one support as you work through the 12 Steps. They’ll also keep in touch with you daily and help you develop essential tools and strategies you can use to deal with challenging emotions. The rest of this article will address loneliness in the context of addiction. We’ll review the research on the topic – there’s not much – and conclude with our top ten tips on managing loneliness during recovery.
Whether it’s a judgmental friend or a place that carries bad memories, either can lead to adverse effects on your recovery. Avoiding these individuals or locations is one of the best things you can do to lower feelings of anxiety and loneliness. 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.
If you’ve just come home from inpatient addiction treatment, where you were around people most of the time, you might suddenly find a normal amount of alone time rather stark. None of the people you are used to chatting with in the dining hall or rec room are around anymore. Loneliness can be debilitating, and having no one to confide in or lean on during difficult times can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness.
Depression can cause loneliness and that loneliness can result in people self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. But that leaves them lonely, without their primary coping mechanism – alcohol or drugs – and without the social network that used to make them feel connected. With a non-12-step program, the underlying issue and the substance abuse itself are examined to help people live sober lives. We typically utilize a combination of therapies in these programs. We offer support groups in the form of both 12-step programs and non-12-step groups. The basic idea behind the 12-step model is following 12 basic steps to achieve a sober life.
Some of the most common causes of loneliness include: Social Anxiety, Isolation, Difficulty with Assertiveness, and Poor Self-awareness. Common types or forms of loneliness include: Lack of Physical Connection, Lack of Common Interests, Lack of Shared Values, Lack of Emotional Intimacy, and Lack of Self-Intimacy.
When you’re an adult, you’re around other people at work--sometimes. However, people at work have their own lives and concerns and you may or may not have any points of connection. It’s important to remember that loneliness isn’t just the absence of companionship; it’s the presence of psychological stress. Studies have shown that loneliness is linked to a greater likelihood of high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and psychological distress. If you’re feeling lonely in recovery, here are some suggestions for what to do about it.