How Do You Cope with Loneliness in Addiction Recovery?

She continues to teach him lifelong coping skills that will enable him to deal with his anxiety without using drugs to escape. My son has truly thrived and prospered under the care of Heather, and we will forever be grateful for her dedication and commitment to reclaiming his life. Victory Bay has gone above and beyond to accommodate me as well as other patients since I have attended. From the staff, techs, therapists, and case managers; they are always there to help and support me personally in any way possible. It is also nice to have staff there that have been through the same issues and situations and can relate with them as well.

Alcohol abuse is linked to chronic medical issues, including…. New Method Wellness is not affiliated with, employed by, or in contract with any treatment centers or providers. Fighting loneliness can have the effect of fighting addiction too, as positive relationships impact your life in a significant way. Support groups and treatment will help to break the cycle of addiction, but lifestyle changes can also bring positive changes and greatly improve the situation.

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There are plenty of people with countless friends who feel lonely. You can feel lonesome in a crowded room or at a party if you are unheard or misunderstood. According to a 2018 survey published by the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 22% of adults in the United States struggle with loneliness. When a person is lonely, there is a discrepancy between desires for social connection and its actual experiences. Alcoholics and those addicted to drugs are usually lonely people.

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• It is also nice to have staff there that have been through the same issues and situations and can relate with them as well.
• Did you know that spending time with loving friends and family members is one of the most important things you can do to live a happy lifestyle?
• A recent study found that Americans have 3 lifelong friends, 5 good friends, 8 people they like but don’t usually date, 50 acquaintances, and 91 friends on social networks.
• Repairing damaged relationships can help you rebuild the healthy support network you squandered when you were in thrall to drugs or alcohol.

Once you are stable enough in your recovery, you can start paying it forward to others by volunteering to serve as a sponsor. While the 12 steps of AA don’t require participants to become sponsors, they do emphasize passing the lessons you’ve learned in recovery on to others. If you can inspire someone else to seek help or stay sober, they’ll be grateful to you for the rest of their life. If you’re feeling How to Cope with Loneliness During Addiction Recovery lonely and are concerned about relapse, or if you have already relapsed, call 12 Keys Rehab for more information. Support groups like AA and alumni recovery programs can offer you a space where you can speak about your struggles and be heard and understood. Not only do they offer a safe space, but these groups also allow you to meet others in the recovery community and even create new friendships.

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When people feel lonely for a prolonged period, it can lead to feelings of isolation and even result in depression. Protect your mental health in recovery by remaining connected to your sober support network, family members and close friends while also cultivating new sober friendships. Plan to spend quality time with family and friends.

Frequent participation in a 12-step or other addiction recovery group is another excellent strategy for keeping you accountable and overcoming loneliness. Contrary to common misconceptions, hearing other people’s stories can inspire you to continue pursuing your goals of lifelong sobriety instead of tempting you back into substance abuse.

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While we’re more connected than ever, loneliness is such a pervasive problem that some studies declared it a public health risk. It’s difficult to address because there is no single cause for this feeling, and how loneliness affects you is as unique as you are. Research has shown that just five minutes of meditation may lead to decreased stress and a better mood. Yoga is another great way to ease feelings of distress, increase both physical and mental flexibility, and build a sense of community. Many yoga and wellness studios offer a variety of movement classes, ranging in intensity and class sizes.

Substance use helps avoid confronting their problems, delivering a false sense of security. It is a vicious cycle because when the drugs and alcohol are not present, all the emotions they were unable or unwilling to deal with come racing right back. When they don’t find ways to cope with the original emotion, it just keeps building and building. While you were using drugs or alcohol, your friend group was most likely made up of people who did the same. When we experience feelings of anxiety, loneliness, sadness, or despair, the reflexive urge to manage our negative feelings is to relieve the negative emotions. The inciting permutation of factors that make people susceptible to addiction varied from person to person. In a treatment program or sober residence, you’ll almost always be surrounded by other people at various stages in their recovery.

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I am so grateful for this treatment center, I have built long lasting relationships along with fantastic memories. I highly recommend for anyone looking to better themselves to look at doing it at Victory Bay. People often equate being alone with loneliness, but they are not the same thing. There are many individuals who appear to be content and happy even though they do not spend a lot of time with other people. There are then those people who spend a lot of time in the company of others yet still experience intense feelings of loneliness. It seems to be the experience of a lack of connectedness with other people that is the real problem and not the absence of other people.

• Instead, actively strengthen your relationships.
• Individualized, evidence based treatment, to fit your needs.
• Old friendships that you used to have may no longer serve your lifestyle anymore.
• Instead of dwelling on feelings of loneliness in addiction recovery, take advantage of your solitude.
• If anyone who is running the show sees this, I hope you know that you have someone who deserves to be recognized and rewarded for not only who she is an employee, but as a person as well.
• Complete the form and a treatment advisor will contact you at the number provided.