Not only is this a fantastic way to fill up your time and take your mind off things, but it also gives you a sense of purpose and offers the gratification that comes with helping others. Sit with the feeling, explore the feeling and accept the feeling. Only then will you be ready to explore what it is you want or need emotionally and spiritually, to abate your loneliness. Last, it’s important to consider what one of the world’s most crucial resources for recovery has to say about loneliness.
Physical distancing has compounded this isolation since the pandemic. The lack of access to support groups, sober living houses, and other traditional forms of addiction treatment can make it difficult to connect with your peers in recovery. The importance of community for those in recovery is one of the many reasons that attending 12-Step (or other recovery program) meetings is such a good idea.
Three Hobby Suggestions to Support Recovery
Humans are social creatures, and relationships play a huge role in our physical, mental and emotional well-being. A lack of friendships and close connections can lead to relapse. By learning to loneliness in sobriety combat loneliness, you can empower your recovery journey. When I was out there drinking, over the years, I began to drift further and further away from reality as my alcoholism progressed.
Feeling good physical and mentally increases your self-esteem and self-worth which is important when you’re dealing with loneliness. So, don’t hide from your feelings of loneliness, because without this starting point you won’t know which direction to head. Sitting with your feelings of loneliness, possibly for the first time, will allow you to feel what you’re truly made of. P.S. If you need help navigating your journey to recovery, contact me for help.
Give back to your community.
This can help you build relationships with others who may be suffering. That’s because parasocial relationships can leave most people feeling unfulfilled. For some, turning to substances can seem like a convenient way to ease the feelings of loneliness or even as a way to jumpstart social connections that are only built on substance use. Now I have a full life and rarely experience that lonely feeling. It took time for me to overcome loneliness, but returning to drinking surely wouldn’t have been solution.
