Avoid Excess Time Spent on Social MediaThis is a tough one, because we like to think that social media is allowing us to connect with more people—even its name implies socialization. Share Your FeelingsKeeping your feelings bottled up will not help in your endeavor to feel better or to bond with others. Just expressing your feelings will allow you to release trapped emotions. Let a friend or family member know what you’re going through or spend some time writing in a journal. It’s important to understand that there exists a significant difference between loneliness and being a natural loner.

Two review authors (SI and LM) independently assessed the methodological quality of each article. The second reviewer (LM) conducted a quality appraisal for 10% of the total articles. Any disagreements loneliness in sobriety were resolved through discussion at the end of the data-extraction process. Disagreements between the two reviewers were resolved through a discussion with a third reviewer (SJ).

Tips for Cultivating Compassion in Addiction Recovery

Perhaps the most important way to help yourself deal with loneliness is sobriety is to allow yourself to grieve your old, substance-dependent self. Recognizing that you’ve gone through a major change and letting yourself feel all of the emotions triggered by that change can help you begin to address your situation honestly. As discussed in a previous post, relapse has three stages, the first of which is emotional relapse. In this stage of relapse, a person is not actively using any substances or even thinking about doing so, but they are making choices that could lead them toward engaging in use in the future. Experienced Chief Executive Addiction Recovery and Mental Health Professional Business professional in the Addiction Recovery and Mental Health industry for the past 26 years. Caring, compassionate and strongly motivated to make a difference in the organizations I am affiliated with and welfare of the population we serve.

loneliness in sobriety

Without it, it is all too easy to start feeling lonely and to fall into thought patterns—replaying the past and worrying about the future—that can lead to a relapse. Joining a support system or finding like-minded people in recovery may offer new opportunities to forge healthy, lasting friendships. Loneliness and isolation in sobriety are prevalent challenges in the journey of recovery. Recognising and harnessing the transformative power of connection becomes not just a strategy but a fundamental cornerstone for individuals seeking lasting recovery. Apologizing for the negative impact substance abuse has had on a relationship can sometimes allow you to regain a support system you value.

What is for Dinner – Healthy Habits

Feeling lonely is a normal part of life, but that doesn’t make it easier to cope. Relationships play a significant role in our mental and physical health, and unfortunately, addiction tends to damage our relationships with people we love. We will listen intently to you and create a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. Throughout the treatment process—from medically supervised detox, to our robust rehab program, and on through our commitment to a continuum of care—you will always feel supported and never feel judged. We will leverage our expertise and experience to help you reclaim your life.

PCP adopts a holistic approach to treatment, recognising that recovery goes beyond addressing substance use alone. Our programmes encompass physical, mental, and emotional well-being, ensuring individuals receive comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs. Starting recovery is a courageous step, but it often comes with its own set of challenges. Loneliness and isolation in sobriety can cast a shadow on the path to recovery, making the road seem longer and more daunting.

Tips for Setting and Maintaining Healthy Boundaries in Addiction Recovery

Think about it, you lose some drinking buddies, you don’t go to parties that may jeopardise your fragile early sobriety. You may have lost friends due to your previous drinking antics. You may not have anyone to confide in who understands your decision to quit drinking or you may be hold up at home getting your bearings, trying to figure out this whole sobriety thing. Whatever your reason for feeling lonely, I think this article can help. 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.

loneliness in sobriety

Feelings of loneliness are most prevalent in early sobriety when we break away from old habits. As we begin to get clarity, it can be painful to face how we have hurt others and damaged relationships. Working through these feelings is crucial to staying sober. When loneliness strikes, having tools to get through it and continue our new way of life will help keep us from going back to substance use. If a newborn does not get enough love and affection, the newborn can suffer from “failure to thrive” syndrome.

These are the people with whom you have close connections that are not built around drugs or alcohol. These are the folks who will come over to play board games or invite you over to watch the big game or are always up for a chat—the people who just make day-to-day life better. Creating a supportive network involves actively seeking out relationships that foster sobriety. This might mean forming new friendships with those who lead sober lives or strengthening existing relationships with understanding friends and family.

  • If you would like more support in recovery, our facility offers aftercare support for individuals who have completed a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program.
  • It can make you feel more energized and motivated, and can help keep negative thoughts at bay.
  • The following includes what I did, but also includes suggestions that I didn’t do, but should have.
  • Loneliness within sobriety can be a risk factor as many individuals will relapse due to the temporary negative mindset; however, there are several ways to overcome loneliness within sobriety.
  • We also included studies that compared people with ‘personality disorder’ diagnoses/traits to other clinical groups or the general population (See Supplementary Table 1 for Inclusion and Exclusion criteria).