If you’re currently struggling with addiction, you’re probably familiar with the feelings of isolation that can accompany that struggle. Addiction is a highly stigmatized topic, and for many people, there are a lot of feelings of guilt and shame that surround their struggle with substance abuse. These feelings of guilt and shame are not only difficult to deal with– they can actually exacerbate the problem.
Finding support is an absolutely crucial step to take on the road to recovery. This is true for virtually everyone, not just people who deal with addiction. In general, stress levels of the general public have been exponentially increasing over the past few years. Even for a physically healthy person with no mental health or substance abuse problems, loneliness and isolation have been linked with numerous health issues– like a weakened immune system, cognitive issues, and even cardiovascular disease.
Professional help
One of the simplest ways to seek emotional support is to pursue therapy or counseling. A therapist’s job is to listen to you and provide support in ways that will improve your life. At Pecan Haven, therapy is a key part of our program– it’s impossible to effectively treat addiction issues without truly finding the root of the problem and facing it head-on. A therapist will work with you to do this.
Community support
Therapy is just one component of an excellent emotional support network, however, and a weekly therapy appointment might not be enough to provide the benefits that a great support system can offer. For people struggling with addiction, turning to 12-step programs is a great way to find community amongst like-minded people, in addition to providing a framework for a fulfilling life in recovery.
You don’t have to have a massive group of friends around you at all times to enjoy the benefits of emotional support. This issue is strictly about quality, not quantity. Finding just a handful of people you can confide in without fear of judgment will have major positive implications for your mental and physical health.
Finding a community
If you’ve recently moved to a new place or have experienced another kind of major life change, you might be facing an all-too-common problem: it’s hard to make friends as an adult! This is compounded by lifestyles of increasing isolation– there’s no denying that working from home is a net positive for many people, but office culture is missing from the equation.
Making friends as an adult is difficult for everyone, even people who do work in an office environment. As we get older, we find it more difficult to open up to people and trust them the way that children and teenagers trust one another. And although being cautious is not necessarily a bad thing, it can put up walls between people and increase feelings of isolation.
So what’s the solution to this problem that only seems to be growing? Seeking mental health care, like counseling, should be the very first step if you’re struggling with substance abuse issues or are otherwise in crisis. A qualified mental health professional will help direct you through the next steps of your recovery process.
Support in recovery
Once you’ve taken care of that and are working toward recovery under the guidance of a qualified professional, try and focus on expanding your community. If you’re seeking treatment here at Pecan Haven, you’ll find that there are lots of opportunities to meet others who are going through the same thing– both in group counseling and during your free time. We offer beach volleyball, basketball, tennis, ping-pong, and more, which are all great ways to decompress and connect with others. Making connections is fun, but it’s also essential for your mental and physical health.
If you’re struggling with addiction and want to take the first steps toward your recovery, please feel free to contact us. Give us a call at 318-600-3333 for immediate assistance, or visit our website and fill out an assessment form. We’re here to help.