Overcoming The Isolation Of Addiction
Addiction can lead to isolation and loneliness. In today’s increasingly isolated society, more people may be turning to substance use as a way to cope with isolation and loneliness. People with substance use disorders can find solutions for building relationships and overcoming addiction and isolation through professional treatment.
Isolation and addiction are known to go hand-in-hand. People with substance use disorders (SUDs) may isolate themselves from friends, family, and other loved ones because of a preoccupation with drug or alcohol use. With the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General declaring an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in 2023, people may also be turning to substance use to overcome depression, anxiety, or other effects of isolation, which could develop into an addiction.
Isolation and addiction don’t have to be approached alone. Professional addiction treatment options, such as residential, inpatient, or outpatient treatment programs, provide clients with the tools to overcome isolation and addiction—tools like group therapy, peer support groups, and the development of healthy habits, to help people connect with others, improve self-confidence, and build a sober support system.
Keep reading to learn more about the relationship between isolation and addiction, how to overcome the isolation of addiction, and the many benefits of seeking professional addiction treatment.
The Relationship Between Isolation And Addiction
We are social animals. In the same vein as food, water, and shelter, we need human connection to survive and thrive, and we find community through many outlets, including religion, sports, art, work, and more. The coming together of communities from close and near helps people feel more at ease in a large and demanding world and can help break down barriers of intolerance and prejudice. Healthy relationships between loved ones create joy, lasting memories, and peace.
However, drug or alcohol addiction can make someone break away from the world. Common symptoms of addiction include feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation. When someone is experiencing active addiction, they may not want to engage in relationships or activities that don’t revolve around substance use. Even outgoing, extroverted people may become isolated and reclusive. Sometimes the stigma of addiction may cause someone to withdraw from loved ones, in fear of being judged.
Conversely, people who are more introverted, shy, or have a disposition toward depression and anxiety may be experiencing isolation before they ever touch a drug or drink. Many people experienced isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the rise in working from home, physical separation from coworkers may be causing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Couple this with the thousands of TV shows, movies, social media apps, and video games readily available, and people find themselves spending more time alone than they ever have before. If a person feels unable to physically or emotionally connect with others, they may turn to substance use to overcome feelings of isolation. Even someone who doesn’t usually drink socially or at all may develop an alcohol use disorder after many nights of drinking alone.
Signs Of Addiction-Related Isolation
Whether someone develops an addiction through isolation or vice versa, people with SUDs typically experience loneliness. They may separate from positive influences or anyone not willing to enable their behavior. As Americans are spending more time alone, it may be hard to determine if a loved one’s isolation is due to addiction.
Signs of addiction-related isolation include:
- withdrawing from family and friends
- avoiding social events and gatherings
- increased time spent alone
- neglecting responsibilities at home or work
- secretive behavior about substance use
- decreased communication with loved ones
- avoiding phone calls, messages, or visits
- loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- defensive or irritable when asked about behavior
- lack of emotional connection with others
Isolation’s Effects On Mental Health Overall
Humans thrive on the ability to communicate and connect. Experiencing long periods of isolation can make someone feel alone in the world, creating emotional separation from loved ones and leading to dark thoughts. When we’re cut off from others, we may feel unable to relate and experience many mental health symptoms.
Isolation And Loneliness
Though isolation and loneliness may seem synonymous, they slightly differ in meaning. Isolation is the lack of physical interactions, relationships, or human contact. Loneliness is a feeling that occurs when others don’t fulfill a need for connection. For example, someone who is physically isolated may still find connection through phone calls, video chats, or texting others they love and care for. However, someone can still feel lonely even if they attend social events, are in an intimate relationship, or are part of a large friend group, if those interactions don’t fulfill them.
Someone with an SUD may feel lonely because their social interactions don’t provide the pleasurable and even euphoric feelings they experience when intoxicated. After a while, they may forego their relationships, replacing them with substance use. This then leads to isolation from the world and a feeling of loneliness. Frontiers in Psychiatry published a study in 2021 that found that too much time alone can “foment powerful senses of boredom, anxiety, and loneliness, as well as precipitate the return of painful memories.”
Other Mental Health Effects Of Isolation
Aside from loneliness, other effects that isolation can have on mental health include the following:
- increased feelings of despair
- heightened anxiety and worry
- worsening symptoms of depression
- distorted thinking and negative self-talk
- reduced self-esteem and self-worth
- increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- difficulty managing stress and emotions
- higher likelihood of substance use or other compulsive acts
- loss of motivation or purpose in life
- sleep disturbances and insomnia
How Addiction Treatment Helps Break The Cycle Of Isolation
Seeking treatment is the best way to overcome addiction and its many negative effects, including isolation and loneliness. Professional addiction treatment specialists offer various resources so that clients can learn about their addiction, build a sense of community, and learn how to find joy in knowing and connecting with others. Keep reading to learn more about these resources.
A Structured Schedule
Residential drug rehabilitation programs especially provide structured schedules for clients. Whether it’s 30 days or several months, clients follow daily and weekly set schedules, including regular meal times, therapy sessions, and wellness activities. A structured schedule helps clients develop a routine along with accountability and helps them break away from the cycle of isolation. In many facilities, clients live in dorm-style rooms, allowing them to more easily make connections, have less alone time, and work together to create a peaceful and productive living environment.
A structured schedule in a treatment facility may include:
- morning meditation or mindfulness practice
- meals at designated times
- group therapy sessions
- individual counseling
- recreational activities
- physical exercise
- educational workshops on addiction and recovery
- journaling or reflection time
- 12-step or alternative support group meetings
- medication management or doctor appointments
- evening check-ins or progress reviews
Individual And Family Psychoeducation
Many people are unaware of the physical, mental, and emotional effects of addiction. This is why most treatment facilities place an emphasis on addiction and recovery education.
Addiction psychoeducation may include:
- understanding the science of addiction and brain chemistry
- recognizing triggers and cravings
- developing stress management skills and emotional regulation
- exploring the stages of change in recovery
- identifying patterns of addictive behavior
- learning about relapse prevention strategies
- understanding the impact of addiction on relationships
- recognizing co-occurring mental health disorders
- exploring the effects of substances on physical health
- learning the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices
Some treatment facilities, including Spring Hill Recovery Center, provide education programs for loved ones as well. When a family member or partner learns about addiction and recovery, the client often feels less isolated, more understood, and more supported.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
One of the highlights of many addiction recovery programs is dual diagnosis treatment, addressing mental health disorders that co-occur with addiction. Depression, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses can be isolating in and of themselves, and experiencing addiction along with one of these disorders can increase feelings of loneliness and isolation. Facilities that offer dual diagnosis care can identify dual disorders and provide a personalized treatment plan that addresses both disorders at the same time.
Common dual diagnoses include the following:
- depression and alcohol abuse
- anxiety disorders and methamphetamine abuse
- bipolar disorder and cocaine addiction
Peer Support Groups
Peer support groups are attended by people with shared similar experiences with addiction and its various effects. Some of the more well-known examples of peer-led support groups are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Members of these 12-step groups share a common desire to stop using substances and lead a healthy life. The 12 steps provide a spiritual journey and a structure that includes mentorship and attending regular meetings where members share the daily highs and lows of sobriety. Members are asked to find a higher power of their understanding to rely on in overcoming addiction and isolation. These programs stress the idea that no one needs to go about sobriety alone. Members often become friends outside of meetings, with opportunities to attend sober activities such as dances, picnics, and game nights. Treatment facilities often serve as an introduction to the 12 steps and 12-step meetings.
Drug rehab centers may also offer clients other options for peer support groups, such as SMART Recovery. SMART Recovery helps people overcome addiction through scientific approaches, without reliance on a higher power. This may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and other evidence-based therapies.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is an essential part of treatment in drug rehab centers. This form of therapy gives participants the chance to share experiences, hardships, and successes with others in an encouraging, recovery-focused environment moderated by a therapist. This can lead to increased connectivity between clients and opportunities for connections that last beyond treatment.
Sessions may focus on certain types of therapy, such as CBT or MI, or on specific topics, such as identifying triggers, building a support system, or creating a relapse prevention plan.
The Development Of Healthy Habits
People develop unhealthy habits during active addiction, and so they often need to relearn and practice healthy habits to support their recovery. Addiction treatment facilities build these opportunities into clients’ schedules in many ways. For example, group recreation activities help people who have fallen into a pattern of isolating themselves with drugs and alcohol, while healthy meals served at regular times help people who have been eating poorly.
Healthy habits developed during treatment may include:
- making one’s bed every day
- eating at regular meal times
- getting physical exercise
- connecting with others
- engaging in stress-reduction techniques, like mindfulness
- establishing a healthy bedtime routine
Alumni Programs
Once a client completes treatment, they will often still receive support through their care team. For example, many treatment centers offer alumni programs for people who’ve graduated from their programs. Alumni programs may provide sober social gatherings, support meetings, volunteer opportunities, and more so that alumni can stay connected and not feel alone. These programs also offer continued guidance, mentorship, and accountability for lasting sobriety.
Benefits Of Overcoming Isolation And Addiction
Overcoming isolation and addiction may seem difficult in early recovery, but the benefits are worth the work. People who’ve taken the plunge into addiction treatment and stayed diligent throughout treatment often find they’ve become very different people. Learning to trust and find joy in others, having fun in a large or small group, and not depending on a substance for connection with the world are just some of these benefits.
Other benefits include:
- improved mental health and emotional stability
- stronger connections with family and friends
- increased self-esteem and confidence
- reduced risk of relapse
- greater sense of purpose and fulfillment
- enhanced ability to cope with stress and challenges
- more positive social interactions and relationships
- better physical health and well-being
- renewed motivation for personal growth and self-care
Addiction Recovery At Spring Hill
You or a loved one can begin to overcome the isolation of addiction today by calling Spring Hill to learn about our residential treatment programs and compassionate care team.