Loneliness can infiltrate even the most positive of times. As you work through addiction recovery, you may recognize all of the good things happening to you. You physically feel better and have a direction in your life that you’re proud of creating for yourself. Yet, something isn’t right.
It’s not uncommon to be lonely during addiction recovery. After leaving drug and alcohol treatment in Lubbock, Texas, for example, you may be surrounded by people you love and who support you. Then, as time goes by, they go back to their own lives, leaving you feeling alone. You may start to feel that no one really understands what you’re going through during recovery.
Loneliness, or a lack of desired social connection, is a widespread concern in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency also notes that, without treatment, it can negatively impact emotional and physical health.
No matter why you feel lonely, recognize it as a natural part of the healing process. Then, explore these ways to combat loneliness.
- Develop Genuine Relationships
A genuine relationship is one in which you can open up about your needs freely without judgment or a lack of understanding. Sometimes, loneliness occurs because a person doesn’t communicate their specific needs, such as not wanting to eat dinner alone every night or needing someone to talk to after a rough day.
Genuine relationships require two-way communication and respect. They are not easy to build. If you want them, you need to be a good friend and have that person in your life who’s going to help you stay sober.
- Grieve Your Old Life
It may seem out of place, but grief is a very real component of addiction recovery. First, you have to face what happened to you, the emotional trauma, and other causes of your addiction. Then, you need to address the loss of your drug or alcohol use. It was a part of your life, good or bad.
Sobriety is worth the work, but it is a big change in your life. That means grief could become a very real component of those first few months or even for a year after you stop using substances.
- Boost Your Nutritional Intake
Your body is also going through an incredible change, and it needs as much nutrition as possible. That means eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, eating a holistic diet when possible, and eating less sugar. That’s not easy to do either, right?
Consider a few simple tips that can make this entire process easier:
- Get enough sleep each night. Aim for 7 to 9 hours.
- Get out into the sun on a daily basis. Your body needs vitamin D to improve your mood.
- Take a multivitamin to get more of the nutrients your body needs.
Going for a walk, visiting a local park, or stepping outside your home or place of employment to get some fresh air and let the sun hit your skin can drastically improve your mental health and combat loneliness.
- Put Yourself in Positive Social Situations
Create new opportunities for yourself. Consider organizing sober events, even if it’s just getting some friends together to watch a movie.
Then, get out more in other ways. You could join a local group dedicated to a hobby that interests you. Go online to find people who are focused on something you’re interested in. By putting yourself into social situations, you’re creating an opportunity to combat loneliness and improve your health and well-being.
- Get Engaged Through Volunteerism
It’s often a recommendation for those who are in recovery to volunteer. It could be at your local drug or alcohol treatment center. Perhaps you can become a key player in the local addiction recovery group.
The important thing is to volunteer in a meaningful way. That could mean helping seniors and those in poverty or even supporting a local animal shelter. Even if you are doing something brand new, volunteering engages you with other people and builds value in your daily life. Addiction recovery brings changes. Volunteering helps give you value in your own way.
Connect with the Team at Ranch at Dove Tree Today
At The Ranch at Dove Tree, we provide each person with the respect, honesty, and compassion they need during this incredibly positive but overwhelming recovery period. Work with our team to be a part of something you are passionate about.
If you or someone you know needs help with addiction recovery, contact The Ranch at Dove Tree now.
