Some of the adverse health effects of severe loneliness include weaker immune systems, poor sleep, and arthritis. Loneliness can also lead to unhealthy consumption patterns of food and drink, which may result in Type loneliness in recovery 2 diabetes. And lastly, it can trigger increased consumption of addictive substances, such as nicotine, alcohol, and hard drugs. For anyone in an addiction treatment program, isolation can feel like a haven.

When human connections are lacking, substances can offer a temporary escape, a fleeting feeling of euphoria, or a momentary sense of belonging. Making connections with other people in recovery will ultimately support you in maintaining your sobriety. They will not only have some common problems and emotions that you may be dealing with, but they are less likely to try to get you to relapse. Sometimes, you may feel lonely in your recovery because you cannot attend parties or even restaurants if these places are triggers for you. People who have substance use disorders are trying to avoid negative emotions.

Community Cooking

And so we know that’s part of the risk of mortality increase that goes along with social isolation. The root of loneliness is feeling a lack of connection to those around us. It is the strong feeling that you are separate or different from others that many people in addiction recovery experience. Loneliness https://ecosoberhouse.com/ is a complex experience, and if we look closely, buried under feelings of loneliness is often a sense of unworthiness. We struggle to 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.

• If you’re recovering right now, it’s essential to understand that isolating yourself during treatment is difficult but healthy.
• It is a type of undesirable state that a person experiences when they are feeling a strong sense of emptiness and solitude.
• People in addiction recovery often say that loneliness is one of the most difficult things to overcome.
• The use of drugs then leads people to lash out at those around them.
• The anticipated launch of this device within the next few years holds promise, particularly for stroke patients during their recovery.

Using drugs or alcohol feels like an escape where you don’t have to deal with your emotional pain and loneliness. Unfortunately, when drinking or using drugs turns into an addiction, the loneliness gets even worse as the relationships around you crumble. A recent study found that forming social relationships with others is paramount to successfully recovering from addiction. Staying sober is not the only vital part of a successful recovery from substance use disorder.

Loneliness in Recovery

Pete Kenworthy
I mean, it really correlates well to if you start not feeling well physically, you call the doctor, right? Overall, the study participants spent 66% of their time alone, and those who were alone for more than 75% of their time were the ones who felt the most lonely. On analyzing the result from the entire participant pool, there was only a 3% overlap between aloneness and loneliness.

This is a particularly dangerous emotion for people in recovery because it can put them on the slippery slope back to relapse. When you suffer from substance use disorder, isolation can lead to a downward spiral into addiction. When you begin using drugs or drinking, you may have friends who only hang out with you while you’re using. Eventually, you might decide to spend time alone with your substance for various reasons. It may be that you enjoy drinking alone or getting high alone. It could be that you get to the point that you don’t want to share with anyone else.

Could Clinical Trial Reporting Spur Illicit Substance Use?

Learning to deal with the inherent loneliness in recovery helps you avoid the risks above and prevent relapsing. Solid relationships help you develop healthy coping skills, learn from each other, and build resilience. Loneliness reduces your opportunities to learn or practice these skills, leaving you more vulnerable when dealing with triggers. Social isolation is a stressor you may not know how to tackle healthily. Loneliness might push you to return to substance use as a coping mechanism or to fill the emotional void.