by Jennifer McDougall
For many, being alone is a challenging and uncomfortable feeling. We crave connection and in order to stay sober, happy, and healthy its helpful to surround ourselves with positive influences. That doesn’t necessarily mean these people need to be physically around you 24/7. There is often times a confusion between loneliness and being alone. You may not know this, but spending time alone every now and then is actually good for your mental and emotional wellbeing. To discover true self-acceptance and inner peace, spending time alone is a vital requirement you must begin practicing if you want to overcome feelings of loneliness
Most people who find discomfort in being alone are lacking connection in core relationships such as their friends, family members, and co-workers. They lose sight of purpose and direction in their lives. A desperate need to feel loved and accepted is a common feeling many people who are incredibly lonely feel on an everyday basis. Often times, they also turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain and loneliness. Depression is also a common side effect of the lack of connection. When we feel connected to others, we are less likely to feel that void, that missing link, that absence of acceptance from others.
The focus of spending time alone is not to isolate yourself. The focus is to invest time and energy into healing yourself and improving the quality of your mental, physical, and emotional health. That is what we help you with here at Passages.
At Passages Addiction Treatment Centers, we do not believe that drug and alcohol dependency is a disease. Instead, we believe addiction is by one or more of the following four causes:
- Chemical imbalance
- Unresolved events from the past
- Beliefs you hold that are inconsistent with what is true
- Inability to cope with current conditions
Making the most of your time when you’re alone is very important. Here is a list of helpful tips and rules to follow if you want to begin living a life without the feeling of loneliness and begin feeling confident and comfortable in your time alone.
- Make plans to have lunch or dinner with a friend or co-worker once a week so you get outside and enjoy some time socializing with others who share common interests.
- Dedicate 1 hour every day to a solid workout.
- Create something new everything single day. Whether that is a blog, a painting, a poem, a new inspiring social media post, or cook a healthy meal.
- De-clutter your living areas including storage closets and cabinets.
- Take yourself to dinner and a movie- alone and put your phone away while you enjoy time to yourself.
- Practice mindful meditation to clear your mind and work through any obstacles that you are currently experiencing
- Do not ever compare your life, your social media accounts, your wardrobe, or relationships to someone else’s for it will only leave you with negative emotions.
- Stay away from drugs and alcohol. Rather than drinking, practice healthier alternative and for suggestions for sober activities read this list
- Remind yourself to value your own opinion and be aware of any negative self-talk. Listen to others but don’t let anyone rule out the value of what you believe and how you feel.
- Practice morning affirmations that bring you confidence, self-assurance, and acceptance. Here is a wonderful video to watch:
How to Contact Passages Addiction Treatment Centers:
Call Passages Addiction Treatment Centers today if you or a loved one is battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Our admissions department is available 24/7 and can be reached directly by calling our toll-free number at (888) 397-0112. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
