Has life gotten lonelier? You’re not the only one feeling this way. In 2023, the US Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation as an epidemic in America. A 2024 national survey by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that 21% of US adults had serious feelings of loneliness. Rising social isolation and loneliness present a number of health problems in our society today, including addiction.
Social Isolation, Defined
What is social isolation, exactly? According to the American Medical Association, social isolation is defined as a lack of engagement with others, or having very few people in your life that you would call, text, or visit. People struggling with social isolation may know a lot of people, whether at work or school, but they don’t have a fulfilling, quality relationship in their life. Related to social isolation, loneliness is a state of mind characterized by disassociation between what you want in your relationships and what you actually experience in your relationships, shares the University of Chicago.
No matter your age, relationship status, personality, or income level, you can experience social isolation. It can happen to anyone. However, certain groups of people, circumstances, or seasons of life face greater risk for social isolation, such as:
- Having a mental or physical health challenge
- Experiencing discrimination
- Living in rural areas
- Facing language barriers
- Victims of abuse or violence
- Facing a divorce, unemployment, or loss of a loved one
- Low-income adults
- Adults living alone
- Immigrants
- People who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual
- Young adults
- Older adults
SOURCE: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Common Social Isolation Symptoms
Though you may live alone or enjoy solitude, it doesn’t mean you’re socially isolated. Alternatively, you may know a lot of people and be well-connected on social media, yet you feel lonely. So what are the circumstances and signs that indicate you’re experiencing social isolation in your day-to-day life? Be on the lookout for the following social isolation symptoms:
- Spending a lot of time alone or having limited interaction with others
- Feeling anxiety, panic, or dread when thinking about social interactions
- Feeling distress during times of solitude or when you’re alone
- Canceling plans often and feeling relieved after cancellation
- Avoiding social interactions, including those you previously enjoyed
SOURCE: Healthline.com
The Long-Term Impact on Your Health
What happens if you’re socially isolated long-term? Experiencing loneliness and social isolation doesn’t just mean a lack of deep friendships or an empty social schedule. Over time, these struggles can reduce your mental and physical health in various ways. Prolonged loneliness and social isolation effects can increase your risk for:
- Heart disease and stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Depression and anxiety
- Suicidality and self-harm
- Dementia
- Premature death
SOURCE: CDC
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a lack of social connection heightens your health risk as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having an alcohol addiction. Loneliness and social isolation are also twice as harmful for your health as obesity.
Social Isolation, Addiction and Loneliness
Addiction can often come into the picture when looking at the long-term effects of social isolation and loneliness. Just think about it: when you’re socially isolated, you don’t have healthy emotional or social connections. Without this regular support, you’re left to navigate difficult feelings and circumstances alone. Consequently, it can be very challenging to cope without loved ones when hard times come.
Without the built-in support system of your community, your social isolation can make you more vulnerable to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Before long, you may be reaching for the bottle or taking drugs. But without regular connection with others, you miss out on the accountability and concern a close friend or family member may provide regarding your choices and behaviors. As a result, your own ways of self-medicating can spiral into substance abuse. At this point, you’re dealing with both addiction and loneliness while isolating yourself. No doubt shame and stigma creep in as well, further isolating you from the help and community you need.
With that said, social isolation is also a hallmark symptom of addiction and substance abuse. When you’re addicted, your whole world revolves around your substance abuse. Everything else falls by the wayside, including your relationships. That means you pass on family gatherings, social outings, and preferred activities in favor of your addiction. Before long, you’re socially isolated.
Social isolation is also one of the obvious relapse warning signs when you’re in recovery. If you’ve begun the stages of relapse, then you may start socially isolating yourself from your support system. Social isolation can also be an addiction trigger that drives you to use again.
Addiction Treatment and Support in Nashville
If you’re struggling with an addiction and social isolation, we can help at Integrative Life Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Our compassionate team provides a variety of addiction treatment programs that address the underlying issues responsible for your struggles. And we offer helpful support at each stage of your recovery, including long-term alumni programming so you can find healthy community again. To start your recovery journey, call us today.
