One of the hardest parts of addiction is the loneliness that comes with it. Feeling like we are alone is one of the scariest parts about living with a substance abuse disorder. We feel like we are struggling without anyone there to support us. We can’t lean on anybody, and we feel like we will never find the help that we need.
When we have a support system, we can feel more brave or strong, like we can take care of what we need, and we don’t have to do it ourselves. This applies to those of us who live alone as well, as people who live alone can often spend a lot of time without anyone else. There are pros and cons to living alone, and one of the drawbacks is that living alone can increase the risk of common mental disorders.
Some of the most common mental disorders are anxiety, mood disorders, and substance use disorders. According to some studies, almost one-third of people will experience one such mental disorder. Because of how common and prevalent these issues are in our society, experts are looking into factors that put people at risk for developing them. They have concluded that living alone is linked to the development of CMD’s. They have also found that it affects all age groups, sexes, and that, primarily, the driving force behind it is loneliness.
Increasing Loneliness Everywhere
The amount of people who are living alone is steadily growing throughout the western world. This is due to a variety of reasons, such as people tending to get married at an older age, a higher-aged population of people, and increased divorce rates. Previously, most research focused on older groups of people, so these studies don’t reflect on all ages of people. They also mainly focused on one condition: depression, which does not help paint the full picture. The previous work done also does not quantify the impact of other factors that influence the relationship: people who live alone are more likely to be overweight, smoke, use drugs, and lack social support. All of those things can affect a person’s mental health.
More Recent, More Complete Studies
To investigate, scientists from the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France analyzed data from 20,503 adults, ages 16–74, that were living in England. The data came from three National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys that experts conducted in 1993, 2000, and 2007. The participants in the studies completed Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised questionnaires to assess whether they had experienced neurotic symptoms during the previous week.
The surveys also collected data on different things such as height, weight, level of education, employment status, alcohol & drug use, social support, and feelings of loneliness. As expected, at the beginning of the study, the authors found that the number of people living alone has steadily grown. In 1993, 8.8% lived alone compared with 9.8% in 2000 and 10.7% in 2007. Their work also showed that, across the age groups, living alone affected the development of substance use disorders.
When they looked into this connection, they found that loneliness was the most significant and consistent factor. They also acknowledge limitations with the study. For instance, this study was a cross-sectional study, meaning it looked at a group of people during a specific moment in time. Long-term studies need to be carried out to find the effects over time. They weren’t able to determine whether living alone caused substance use disorders, or whether the development of a SUD led to them deciding to live alone. There are many things to keep in mind about the study, but it does show that there seems to be some kind of connection between the two, which is important to know.
The next step is to ensure that people who need help can get it, whether it be encouraging someone to find a roommate or build a support system. There are plenty of ways for someone who is feeling lonely to find ways to cope with it. Be sure to reach out to those people, and vice versa, or even use technology to interact with people regularly. There are so many ways for us to help each other feel wanted and deserving. If it means we can help minimize the effects of SUDs, then that is work worth being done. Loneliness isn’t the only cause of substance use disorders, but we can all start fighting addiction everywhere by connecting with each other.
Alcohol and substance abuse is an incredibly lonely experience. Even if we are surrounded by people while we’re using, we’re still alone inside. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe to people who have never experienced it, and this is why community is such an integral part of recovery. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, you’ll find exactly the community and support you’ll need to make it through early recovery and truly thrive. Of course, you’ll have access to some of the best therapists and physicians in the business, along with incredibly loving and compassionate staff available 24/7, but that’s not all. Of equal importance, you’ll be surrounded by people who are going through the same journey as you. With other recovering addicts and alcoholics, you’ll finally discover that you’re not alone. Other people have been where you’ve been and felt the things you’ve felt. What’s more, they’ve survived and gotten sober. If you want a life of sobriety and are ready to put in the work, give us a call at (951) 526-4582.