Traditionally, social isolation and loneliness have typically been associated with older adults. For elders, the loss of friends and loved ones, coupled with distance from the busy lives of adult children, are often the root of social isolation and loneliness. As the World Health Organization (WHO) notes in “Social Isolation and Loneliness,” about 1 in 4 older people experience social isolation. However, social isolation and loneliness have grown in recent years across multiple age groups, particularly among young people. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), only 39% of adults in the United States feel emotionally connected to others.
At Driftwood Recovery, we know reintegration into society post-treatment can come with a host of challenges. Unaddressed addiction and other mental health disorders are corrosive as your symptoms erode those important social support networks. Thus, social isolation and a loss of purpose from addiction and mental illness can make reintegration feel daunting. We recognize the challenges of integration and the importance of re-establishing a strong support network to maintain recovery. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing the services and resources necessary to continue to thrive long after treatment.
Yet, you may question how social isolation disrupts recovery and impedes your interpersonal relationships. It is easy to believe social isolation is necessary post-treatment as shame influences how you engage in the world. Expanding your understanding of social isolation can highlight its impact on your well-being.
What Is Social Isolation?
Social isolation is generally associated with a poor sense of belonging, meaningful communication, and fulfilling relationships. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), social isolation is a lack of social contacts and few regular social interactions. Yet, social isolation is not an uncommon experience or inherently bad or harmful. As noted in General Psychiatry, social isolation is a universal human experience that seeps into every intrapersonal, interpersonal, and existential level of life.
In some cases, you may use social isolation as a coping strategy to alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms. However, it is persistent isolation that contributes to the development of social isolation and loneliness. Thus, the universal nature of social isolation speaks to the need to understand the difference between social isolation and solitude.
The Difference Between Social Self-Isolation and Solitude
Social self-isolation can stem from a variety of factors that can negatively impact your well-being, like social anxiety and low self-esteem. However, solitude can showcase the value of alone time when done mindfully. As stated in the Journal of Personality, solitude can be conceptualized as a state of being physically alone and separate from others. In general, the definition of solitude can sound like a negative, unsociable, and harmful activity.
However, the concept and act of solitude, much like social isolation, is not black and white. Solitude can lead to positive and negative outcomes like relaxation and loneliness, which speaks to the need for balance and reframing. When done mindfully, solitude can offer an opportunity to recharge and engage in personal growth. Listed below are some of the benefits of mindful solitude:
- Support relaxation
- Reduce stress
- Promote emotional regulation
- Enhance mindfulness
- Encourage self-reflection
- Support self-awareness and self-understanding
- Improve mental health
- Boost self-confidence
- Increase productivity
- Boost creativity
- Increase social skills
- Strengthen interpersonal relationships
- Enhance resilience
- Increase life satisfaction
The benefits of solitude showcase the power of alone time for physical and psychological well-being. Although mindful periods of solitude can be a positive force in your life, persistent and undesired social isolation can lead to loneliness and poor health outcomes.
Understanding Social Isolation and Loneliness
Social isolation and loneliness are perceived as the same. While social isolation and loneliness often occur together, they are not the same thing. Social isolation is an objective concept in which you have few social relationships or interactions. On the other hand, loneliness is a subjective feeling in which you feel distress over an actual or perceived lack of connection with others. Moreover, loneliness is associated with the desire to have more social relationships and more satisfaction in those relationships.
You do not have to experience the physical separation of social isolation to be lonely. Rather, you can be surrounded by people and even have several friends but feel significant loneliness. Although social isolation and loneliness do not have to exist together, they are fuel for each other to foster physical and psychological adversity.
Impact of Social Isolation and Loneliness on Addiction and Recovery
Substance use disorder (SUD) can cause significant changes to the brain that impair functioning. Challenges with anxiety and depression, poor impulse control, and emotional dysregulation highlight some of the ways addiction can fracture your relationships. Thus, addiction can push you into social isolation and loneliness, which can continue into recovery. A sense of shame, guilt, and stigma can make it difficult to reach out for recovery support or seek to restore your close relationships. Thus, social isolation and loneliness can harm your physical and psychological well-being in recovery:
- Decreased motivation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Chronic illness
- Obesity
- Cognitive decline
- Relapse
The risk factors of social isolation and loneliness speak to the importance of meaningful social connection for health and well-being.
Dismantling Social Isolation and Loneliness at Driftwood Recovery
Social connection is an invaluable tool for sustained recovery and well-being. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, social connection fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens your social bonds. Through mutually supportive social connection, you feel loved, cared for, and valued, which contributes to greater self-esteem and fulfillment in your life.
At Driftwood Recovery, we are committed to giving you the space and tools to break the cycle with comprehensive alumni services. In our alumni program, you can find a vibrant sober community to build meaningful connections with peers and your loved ones. You can lead a courageous life in recovery with access to meetings, events, a family program, and an engaging alumni app.
Social isolation is often associated with negative health outcomes like anxiety and depression. However, balanced solitude can support relaxation, mindfulness, and self-understanding, and even strengthen relationships. Rather, persistent social isolation can contribute to physical and psychological distress. Social isolation and loneliness together can leave you feeling disconnected and unmotivated, and impede your recovery. The sense of shame and guilt coupled with stigma can increase self-isolation. Therefore, engaging in social connection is invaluable to reducing shame and guilt and increasing your self-esteem and motivation to maintain recovery. At Driftwood Recovery, we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive alumni program built on the power of connection. With connection-driven support, you can restore your sense of belonging. Call us at (512) 759-8330 today.