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We all feel lonely from time to time, but when you are in recovery, too much loneliness can lead to real problems—including relapse. Going it alone in sobriety is extremely challenging for all sorts of reasons. The recovery process is not something you should do on your own. Your support network could consist of family, friends, and/or peers who can lend a supporting hand when you need it. If you feel like you cannot escape your loneliness, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone in your support network.
- One way to mitigate feelings of loneliness is to understand the root cause of those feelings.
- You might have some who are not interested in rekindling a relationship, but others might want to try.
- The idea of HALT is a great way to remember the signs needed to take a break or reach out for support from someone positive in your life.
- Maybe someone has brought along some drugs, hoping to amp up the party.
- As discussed in a previous post, relapse has three stages, the first of which is emotional relapse.
- This can also be a great time to pour yourself into others who could benefit from your time and attention.
View the idea of “being alone” as an empowering opportunity for independence—not something to be ashamed of. Yes, there might be a new emptiness in your life after recovery, but you have also left treatment with a slew of new coping skills and a clearer view of yourself and of your values. Let these additions fill the spaces as you explore what a sober life and self can hold. After starting your addiction recovery process, you may experience an array of emotions, one of which is boredom. Because boredom has the potential to increase your likelihood of relapse, it’s essential to find ways to overcome or avoid the feeling. When loneliness has led to a substance use disorder or a relapse, don’t try to overcome the problem all alone.
Be Intentional About Spending Time With Others
It is likely that loneliness will try to creep into those openings. While this is natural, isolation can lead to triggering situations for relapse or depression. If you are experiencing loneliness in recovery, consider the following tips as you continue to navigate and create your post-treatment life. While you were using drugs or alcohol, your friend group was most likely made up of people who did the same.
- Additionally, losing relationships due to past addiction can produce feelings of loneliness.
- Caring for a home, a garden, animals, or other people can add purpose and small joys to your life.
- The AA community also encourages individuals to carefully tend to their emotional and physical wellbeing, knowing full well that loneliness can often be one of the primary causes of relapse.
In recovery, intense feelings of loneliness and isolation can make it challenging to stay sober. Even adults who feel lonely but don’t have a history of substance abuse are more likely to use drugs and alcohol to find relief from loneliness. I am fortunate enough to work in the mental health field, which has allowed me to be surrounded by people who understand and can help me stay on track.
Four Thinking Mistakes that Can Stand in the Way of Addiction Recovery
For all of those reasons, avoiding loneliness is an important goal to pursue. You can help people who are affected by alcoholism by making a donation to the Cleveland District Office. Honor this time and fill that space with positive influences. At the moment, we’re all under quarantine from the coronavirus and that might put a damper on meetings in your area. If that’s the case, you may be able to connect with your group digitally.
Many of these things require deep, uninterrupted focus, which makes alone time perfect for working on them. While we all need to socialize to various degrees to be healthy and happy, we can also use alone time to think, focus, and work. The chaotic world you became comfortable with has been stripped away. The substances you used to numb your mind and emotions have left your system.
