Feeling lonely is a normal part of life, but that does not make it any more comfortable. Relationships with others play a crucial role in our mental and physical health, and unfortunately, addiction tends to damage our ability to sustain these relationships with the people we care about. In addiction recovery, intense feelings of loneliness and isolation can make it challenging to stay abstinent. For this reason, our Banyan loneliness in recovery Stuart rehab center is sharing tips for coping with loneliness in sobriety that could help you stay on track. Addiction effects on relationships can be difficult for many in recovery, and a worldwide pandemic doesn’t make it any easier for those who are looking to rebuild their lives and make amends with their loved ones. In recovery, intense feelings of loneliness and isolation can make it challenging to stay sober.

Book clubs, exercise classes, church groups, cooking classes, and so many other opportunities can support sobriety without overtly addressing it. Focus on finding healthy ways to spend time rather than fixating on feelings of loneliness. You might consider helping other through volunteering or by adopting a pet–or even a house plant.

Tips for Setting and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries in Addiction Recovery

Not only does physical activity offer a dopamine boost (which improves mood) but joining in activities like club sports or teams can also help you meet other people and create new friendships. This could be a fantastic opportunity to break out of your shell and change your routine. What’s more, having plans made – such as games and tournaments – can give you something to look forward to. Sobriety is lonely for many reasons, and a wonderful way to combat this loneliness is to identify what exactly is making you feel this way.

Accept that feelings of loneliness are normal, and remember that things will get better as you continue your recovery. Understanding yourself, and enjoying your own company is a major way to fight loneliness. Doing some things by yourself will build your sense of self-reliance and independence.

Work on Repairing Damaged Relationships

This will give you an opportunity to not only right some wrongs but also to rebuild relationships that could prevent loneliness and positively feed your life. 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. If you are interested, our Stuart, FL, rehab offers support groups for addicts in recovery. Talking about your feelings and letting someone know what you’re going through can ease feelings of loneliness. It’s also an excellent way to uncover the root causes of your loneliness and process those emotions in a safe and supportive environment.

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. Some people may even make themselves available if you feel like you need someone to talk to.

Rat Studies on Addiction and Social Rewards

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. While it is crucial to surround yourself with friends, family, counselors and support networks who will support you in your sobriety, it’s just as important to learn how to overcome loneliness in recovery. Part of coping with loneliness means acknowledging the feeling, accepting that it’s ok, and knowing you have the tools to deal with it and it will eventually pass.

Understanding how loneliness can harm your sobriety and having a plan to combat those feelings can help you achieve long-lasting sobriety. The Clinical Team at BAART Programs is our team of physicians and medical directors within the organization. BAART is a CARF accredited organization and has been providing opioid addiction treatment services to the San Francisco Bay Area and greater United States since 1977.

How to Handle Loneliness: Our Ten Best Tips

We might have alienated people when we were at the lowest points of our addictions. We might have been burning bridges all these years, holding grudges, creating conflicts, and losing relationships that were important to us. Loneliness can be a powerful trigger for us and can cause us to default back to old patterns, to regress in our recovery, and to undo some of the important work we’ve done in our lives.

• This will give you an opportunity to not only right some wrongs but also to rebuild relationships that could prevent loneliness and positively feed your life.
• When people feel lonely for a prolonged period, it can lead to feelings of isolation and even result in depression.
• A mental health professional or addiction counselor will help you identify the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are contributing to your loneliness and help you overcome them.
• Factors like feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and poor coping mechanisms can also contribute to loneliness in addiction recovery.
• Volunteer work puts you in a position where you must think of and serve others.
• Those that truly love you will be happy to see you well, and most likely forgive you and welcome you back into their lives.