Schedule an Appointment

tweikel@phoenixcounselingservices.net
(717) 398-2044

Phoenix Counseling Services, LLC

My WordPress Blog

  • Home
  • About Our Team
    • Dr. Tish N. Weikel, NCC LPC
    • Kate Howe, LCSW
    • Julie Pensinger, NCC LPCm
    • Remedy, Therapy Dog
    • Melissa Rosenberger, LSW
    • Hannah Hood, NCC LAPC
    • Savannah Rhodes, MS, NCC
    • Jessica Sempowski, NCC LAPC
    • Brooke Hull, NCC LAPC
    • Beth Shipley, MS
    • Alli Monn, BS, MS Level Intern
    • Abby Krstanovic
  • Services
    • Couples Counseling
    • Counseling for Trauma
    • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
    • Counseling for Eating Disorders
    • Therapy Options for LGBTQIA+ Individuals
  • Getting Started
    • Appointment Request
    • Client Forms
    • FAQs
    • Rates & Insurance
  • Resources
    • Phoenix Recommended Reading List
    • Mental Health Links
    • Physical Health Links
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Blog
    • Video Blog
  • Doug’s Haven Inc.
  • Other Holistic Center Practitioners
  • Client Portal

Can Long-Term Isolation Lead to an Addiction?

September 26, 2020 by Tish Weikel Leave a Comment

We are living through some of the most stressful times in recent history. With the global pandemic raging on, many of us are still worried about our own health and the health of our loved ones, especially our older friends and family members.

Many of us have also been hit with financial burdens. Some have lost jobs and others have had to close their businesses. How will the mortgage and bills get paid?

To make an already bad situation worse, a lot of us are still experiencing lockdown and quarantine. Many are working from home for the first time and still, others are unable to travel and be with loved ones.

This has left a majority of people feeling alone and isolated when they are already feeling they are most vulnerable.

The Link between Isolation and Drug Use

During stressful circumstances, it is a natural tendency for people to turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping. A study reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology found there was a 25% increase in alcohol consumption in the weeks following 9/11.

The stress and isolation of the current pandemic are putting those people who are prone to addiction at great risk. Virtual cocktail hours are now officially a thing. But how many of those cocktail hours end when the computer is shut off?

Human beings are social creatures. When you take our ability to be social away, it can lead to depression and anxiety. Even people who have no history of addiction are at risk of developing a drinking or drug problem during the pandemic as a way of coping with social isolation.

When coping with stress, it can be hard to self-monitor our behaviors, but it is incredibly important for our overall health and well-being. If you suspect you have been drinking or using any drug more than you should at this time, it’s important to be honest about that.

Ask yourself a few questions:

  • Has cocktail hour started earlier or gone later than usual lately?
  • Does the bottle of wine that used to last 3 days barely last one night?
  • Do you ever feel like you SHOULD cut down on your drinking or other drug use?
  • Have you noticed you’re thinking about drinking or using drugs more and more?
  • Have loved ones commented on the amount you’ve been drinking?

It’s important that you are honest with yourself at this time. And if you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it’s important that you get some help.

Many treatment centers remain open during this time. You may also want to think about speaking with a mental health counselor. If in-person sessions are not available, find a provider who offers telehealth solutions. This means you can receive treatment online.

Times are tough for everyone right now. You are not alone. If you are turning to drugs and alcohol to deal with the stress and isolation, please get the help you need.

 

SOURCES:

  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/addiction-recovery/202004/impacts-social-isolation-and-stress-problem-drinking
  • https://oceanbreezerecovery.org/treatment/loneliness-and-drugs/
  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuro-behavioral-betterment/202004/teletherapy-can-help-when-social-distancing-prevails

Filed Under: Addiction, General

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



(717) 398-2044

tweikel@phoenixcounselingservices.net

2311 Fairfield Rd
Gettysburg, PA 17325

Send a Message

By submitting this form via this web portal, you acknowledge and accept the risks of communicating your health information via this unencrypted email and electronic messaging and wish to continue despite those risks. By clicking "Yes, I want to submit this form" you agree to hold Brighter Vision harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means.

Phoenix Counseling Services LLC

(717) 398-2044
tweikel@phoenixcounselingservices.net

Connect with Us

Together We Rise
  • Facebook

Get Started

Click the button below to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors.

 

Schedule an Appointment

Privacy Policy

A bright site by Brighter Vision