Seniors, Loneliness, and Addiction: A Closer Look

In addition to that, there are numerous support outlets that allow people in recovery to connect with one another. Our facility offers a variety of programs, including a teen and adolescent group, family therapy, recovery coaching, and more. We believe that with the proper support, anyone can overcome loneliness and isolation because of addiction. Perceptions of loneliness can fluctuate from day to day, and often increase on the weekend or during holidays. When it seems like everyone around you is having fun socializing, this can lead to feeling as though you’re missing out on all the fun. Sometimes, your symptoms won’t let you get out of bed, so seeking out companionship is totally out of the question.

• Extensive research has documented the connection between loneliness and increased risk of premature death, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and suicide for older adults.
• Self-care, whether through exercise, meditation, or art, can help you prioritize your emotional and mental health.
• At Gateway, you’ll find hope and healing that will set you on the path of recovery.
• While their friends and family members need to take care of themselves, this is a common cause of isolation among addicts.
• You can also consider adopting a cat or a dog, provided you feel ready for the responsibility.

You tend to sequester yourself away from friends and family due to the negative stigma that surrounds substance abuse and recovery when, in reality, this is when you need support the most. Don’t just talk to someone, talk to someone about your feelings of loneliness specifically. A quick casual chat when you are feeling lonely can be great, but to really help deal with loneliness you need to talk about it. While some have friends or family they can trust to understand their needs, many recovering addicts do not. 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. When we experience feelings of anxiety, loneliness, sadness, or despair, the reflexive urge to manage our negative feelings is to relieve the negative emotions.

Addiction Lead to Recovery, and Recovery Lead to Being a Good Dad

None of the people you are used to chatting with in the dining hall or rec room are around anymore. Once someone starts drinking to ease loneliness or depression, he or she further increases their sense of loneliness. Additionally, someone drinking can quickly develop a tolerance once he or she drinks a few times. Someone who has 2 to 3 drinks per sitting may soon realize they need a stronger amount of alcohol or more servings per sitting. This can also translate to binge drinking—which is drinking 4 or more drinks in 2 hours for women and 5 or more drinks in 2 hours for men.

A sober network of friends is available through meetings, which provide an opportunity to share struggles, offer guidance and receive hope. Boredom and depression may result when those in recovery exclude themselves from a support network, greatly increasing their risk of relapse. Make regular phone calls to friends and family and share your feelings with them. When someone is struggling with addiction, they need help and support. Social support will provide you with a plethora of guidance, therapy, and advice on how to cope with loneliness and isolation.

The Effects of Addiction and Isolation on Loved Ones

Loneliness can be debilitating, and having no one to confide in or lean on during difficult times can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness. Additionally, addiction often causes changes in a person’s behavior, such as secrecy or lying. Neither of which are conducive to forming and maintaining healthy relationships. This creates a sustained cycle of isolation and drug use that can continue to get worse over time. People who are suffering from addiction tend to isolate themselves, then further exacerbating their feelings of loneliness. This isolation can lead to a number of negative consequences, not only for the individual experiencing addiction but also for their loved ones.

• The notion of solitude as beneficial may strike recovering addicts as totally unfamiliar, since they may have spent the last few years high on drugs to avoid being alone with their thoughts, feelings, and memories.
• Being a part of something bigger than yourself can help you feel less isolated and build self-confidence.
• Unfortunately, the breakdown of relationships can create a barrier to recovery.
• They must learn to take advantage of solitude and enjoy being with the human being they are and have always been.

Data were collected using an online survey from March to April 2017 in Finland, in January 2018 in the United States, and in February 2018 in South Korea. The study was originally conducted in Finland and expanded to the United States and South Korea for cross-national comparison. All datasets were collected with LimeSurvey software (LimeSurvey GmbH) using identical survey formats. It was translated into English by bilingual professional-level https://ecosoberhouse.com/ translators and back-translated again to ensure consistency and accurate matching of all items. The English survey was translated to Korean, which was also back-translated to English by bilingual, professional-level translators fluent in both English and Korean. The survey included measures for all target variables, including excessive alcohol use, problem gambling, compulsive internet use, and perceived loneliness.

Individualized, evidence based treatment, to fit your needs.

It is easy to feel isolated and alone while you try to find the right support group, mend broken relationships, and end toxic associations with those who took part in your addiction. Idle minds and hands are the devil’s playground and workshop, are sayings frequently cited by drug users as the reason for their early use. For example, someone may be bearing the weight of loneliness along with an addiction and a mental health disorder, like depression or anxiety.

As an addict loses connections and withdraws from their community, drug and alcohol abuse typically accelerates to numb the feelings of loneliness, creating an agonizing cycle of depending on drugs and losing companionship. Across health studies, an abundance of evidence shows a clear connection between lack of relationships and impaired health. As researchers have explored the topic of loneliness, studies have found that social isolation and loneliness put an individual at increased risk for premature mortality.

Second, when you’re starting recovery, it’s a good idea to distance yourself from friends and acquaintances who use drugs and alcohol. Even if they don’t pressure you to drink or use drugs, the association might trigger a craving. Feeling this avenue of socializing is restricted in this way loneliness in recovery might make you feel lonely. It’s not uncommon for people to feel lonely when starting out in addiction recovery. If you’ve just come home from inpatient addiction treatment, where you were around people most of the time, you might suddenly find a normal amount of alone time rather stark.