Loneliness is a serious epidemic that is overshadowed in the modern world. According to a recent survey, nearly 75% of Americans are lonely, and Forbes reports show that the number of lonely people has tripled in the last four decades.
Our comprehensive platform offers invaluable resources and insights into managing mental health challenges and overcoming substance abuse. Through our award-winning programs, we provide effective strategies for relapse prevention, ensuring a lasting and transformative recovery experience. Join us in paving a path towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. This is similar to connecting with yourself and is something you likely learned in cognitive behavioral therapy sessions.
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By the time you get to number ten, we’re confident you’ll have a plan to manage your loneliness that will work. You don’t have to be a former high school or college sports star to enjoy recreational sports. Most big cities have fun, low-impact, moderate commitment leagues that are more about socializing than about intense athletic competition. You can find kickball teams, softball teams, flag football teams, volleyball teams, cycling teams – you name it, you can find it. Those games can be very serious indeed – and they’re also a great place to meet peers with similar interests.
It is the strong feeling that you are separate or different from others that many people in addiction recovery experience. Loneliness is a complex experience, and if we look closely, buried under feelings of loneliness is often a sense of unworthiness. We struggle to loneliness in sobriety connect because deep down we do not believe we deserve to. To truly overcome loneliness we have to look within ourselves as well as to outside companionship. In addition to therapy, there are other strategies that can be helpful for addressing loneliness in recovery.
Staying Socially Engaged When You Really Don’t Feel Like It
In the world of addiction recovery, the winter holidays serve as a critical juncture. For those at heightened risk of loneliness and isolation, it is imperative to prioritize mental health and seek the help needed to navigate this challenging time of year. 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 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. Recovering addicts often state that overcoming loneliness in addiction recovery is sometimes harder than detoxing.
However, while the correlation between SUD and loneliness is clear, you may not have recognized that there can be a significant risk of loneliness in recovery, too. Those suffering from an SUD turn to substances to combat feelings of loneliness, and taking away these substances can make a person feel more isolated. That’s because parasocial relationships can leave most people feeling unfulfilled. For some, turning to substances can seem like a convenient way to ease the feelings of loneliness or even as a way to jumpstart social connections that are only built on substance use. The root of loneliness is feeling a lack of connection to those around us.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Gov. Holcomb celebrated Indiana’s momentum by recognizing what’s changed in Indiana since taking office. “The Indiana Model seeks excellence, rejecting any notion that a Midwestern ‘vowel state’ would be content with mediocrity and instead takes giant leaps rather than baby steps. Small gestures of kindness can go a long way toward making people feel good being around you. Being a part of something bigger than yourself can help you feel less isolated and build self-confidence. Addicts often fear being judged or shamed by their loved ones, leading to isolation.
What’s important is that you have something to strive towards rather than letting SUD regain control of your life. The journey of recovery requires leaving the world of substance use behind, including any relationships that may hinder your progress. If you’ve damaged your previous relationships, it can take significant work to gain those back. Fortunately, there are ways that you can deal with loneliness while you’re working on recovery. The 2020 Pandemic forced much of the world into isolation, taking away many of the opportunities for genuine social interactions.