Loneliness and addiction go hand-in-hand, with substance abuse being fueled by feelings of being alone that trigger depression for many addicts. Loneliness is a factor that contributes to many people’s drug abuse or alcoholism. Someone who feels left out, alone, or unable to connect with others may use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate the pain away. Isolation can lead a person to lose control and abuse a substance, which can quickly lead to addiction.
On the other hand, feeling alone can also bring a person to seek help for an addiction. Being left alone by a family that is tired of the addiction sometimes brings a person to their senses and makes them want to get help. It’s a double-edged sword that varies based on how you’re feeling. If you suspect a loved one of being isolated and using drugs, then an addiction intervention is the recommended course of action to help him/her.
Stop Enabling the Addiction
When an individual is struggling with addiction but trying to keep up with their responsibilities and hold their life together, family and loved ones often help the person do this. Family members often realize that the addiction is taking over their lives, but choose to cover it up and help the addict in order to spare the family shame and embarrassment. Enabling the addict in this way only contributes to the addiction and makes it possible for the person to continue without consequences and without getting help. For family members that feel like they are enabling their addicted loved ones, there are twelve-step programs such as Nar-Anon that
When the family finally decides it is time to put a stop to the addiction, they may try different tactics to get the person to accept help. They may start by having an honest conversation with the addict or staging an intervention. If this doesn’t work, some families decide to step back and leave the person on their own. It is at this time that the loneliness of being cut off from the family will hopefully cause the person to realize the seriousness of their addiction and finally accept help. Sometimes being isolated from loved ones is enough to make a person reconsider their lifestyle and be willing to make a drastic change. Other times, an intervention can be the drastic step needed to assist your struggling loved one in reaching out for help.
Each individual and each family is different, and families should always consult a trusted treatment center for advice on how best to get their loved one into treatment. If you’re struggling with depression and addiction, we are a dual diagnosis treatment center with years of experience in treating co-occurring disorders. Contact us for a confidential assessment and let’s see how we can help. Visit our addiction treatment center in Thousand Oaks at 6918 Owensmouth Ave Canoga Park, CA 91303. 24/7 Admissions (818) 722-9019. On-Site Contact (818) 806-3914.
