Their drinking buddies may no longer be interested in spending time with a friend who cannot get buzzed with them. Not only can this be hurtful, but it can contribute to loneliness. Additionally, people with low self-esteem and self-worth typically feel lonelier than those with higher self-esteem and self-worth. Factors like feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and poor coping mechanisms can also contribute to loneliness in addiction recovery.
I relapsed several times in the beginning because I was alone and ended up having a pity party. Therefore, if you’re finding that you’ve been feeling lonely in sobriety, arm yourself with a number of things you can do right away and do them when that sad and lonely feeling sets in. Battling feelings of loneliness, developing a new life in sobriety, and learning how to love yourself are things that all take time.
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. In the past, I used alcohol as a coping mechanism, but now I use healthier coping methods such as mindfulness and meditation among other tools. For whatever reason someone may have begun using drugs or alcohol, becoming addicted is a sign that substances are being used to attempt to fill a sense of emptiness. When an individual has spent a lot of time in their addiction, whether using with others or alone, the drugs or alcohol take the place of healthy interactions with other people. Once in recovery, without the crutch of drugs and/or alcohol and the people one used them with, the newly clean and sober person may feel lonely. If an individual has friends or family members that are supportive and encouraging, they should embrace those people in their life.
I’m here to help you or your loved one find the right addiction treatment program for your unique needs. As you can see, there are a lot of different tactics that a person can use in order to overcome loneliness. Still, this is an important part of the healing process. The most important things to keep in mind are accepting where you’ve been and where you are and finding a sense of meaning in everyday life.
Asking yourself these questions can help you identify ways to target your loneliness and change your lifestyle. Caring for something other than yourself can give your life meaning and make you feel loneliness in sobriety less alone. Also remember, one good friend or family member can easily replace ten old drinking buddies. Eating well, exercise and sleep are all central to feeling good and enhancing your mood.
Furthermore, this is a fantastic opportunity to find new friends on the same road as you. Sobriety is a general term for staying away from mood- and mind-altering substances, though there is no commonly agreed-upon medical definition in terms of what sobriety means. People in recovery generally agree that abstinence is necessary but remains just a starting point for a new, sober life.
