Tackling Loneliness in Sobriety

Loneliness is never a sign of an issue with you; it is instead a natural occurrence that indicates you are moving away from a negative situation, environment, or group of people to start a new positive chapter in your life. Sobriety will constantly bring new changes into your life. Most of those changes bring a brand-new positive mindset; however, many recovering addicts will experience one main negative effect: loneliness.

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.

How to fight loneliness when in recovery

One of the essential facts a recovering addict must do is grieve their old self, recognize that they have and are still transitioning through a significant life change. It is recommended that you allow yourself to feel every emotion to start the grieving process and address your current situation. This is a process you can do either alone, with a loved one, or with a therapist. It is entirely up to you how much you take on alone and how much you decide to communicate with other people to help you through this process.

Other ways to combat loneliness in sobriety besides accepting your situation can include but are not limited to:

Talk to other people

This may seem like a complete no-brainer, but it is easy to overcome your emotions which can lead to an individual isolating themselves. Additionally, there is an additional risk factor of developing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Ask a friend or loved one to come round the house or go to theirs. If you are worried about your emotions becoming overwhelming, give a loved one a call so you can leave the situation if it becomes too much, this allows you to be in complete control of the problem.

Meditate

Meditation is a great way to build a better relationship with yourself. Through meditation, you will learn how strong you are as a person, becoming stronger and happier being alone with yourself.

Illicit substances give you a short span of happiness while tearing apart your entire world without you realizing it. Meditation is a great activity that essentially rebuilds your inner self to give you the strength to take on any obstacle that comes your way.

Join a support group

The recovering addict will often feel as if they don’t belong anywhere; they are the outcast of society. Feeling this way can often be a significant obstacle that stops recovering addicts from talking to loved ones out of fear of not being understood.

It is vital to have a support system to combat loneliness during sobriety. If you can not get that from loved ones or friends, we would always advise finding a support group nearby where you can speak to like-minded people who understand precisely how you are feeling and what you are going through. Furthermore, this is a fantastic opportunity to find new friends on the same road as you.

Get a pet

If you happen to live alone, getting a pet will bring a lot of love and happiness back into your life while you try and figure everything out. Getting a pet such as a dog gives you’re a responsibility; you have to ensure the dog is getting enough daily exercise which results in your having to go outside, get some exercise, and fresh air in your lungs.

Overcome loneliness with the help of Shoreline Sober Living

Overcoming feelings of loneliness in sobriety can be achieved with the help of either a medical professional or loved ones and friends. However, you will need to be open to the thought of getting to know yourself all over again and grieve the old version of yourself. If a loved one believes they may need help for an addiction or recovering from an addiction, reach out to Shoreline Sober Living for help.