Introverts Easily Fall Into Negative Thought Patterns
By definition, introverts enjoy alone time. They feel like social interactions drain their energy and need some time alone to balance their emotions. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with socializing as much or as little as one desires. However, as introverts tend to spend a lot of time by themselves and thinking their lives through, they may get stuck in negative thought patterns without having any outside input to counteract them. This tendency is typically exacerbated by alcohol addiction, as many introverts find it impossible to think their way out of their cravings, leading to hopelessness and despair. These challenges can be counteracted by helping introverts to externalize their negative feelings rather than holding things in.
Introverts Often Use Alcohol to Socialize
As introverts often struggle with social anxiety, they may be prone to using alcohol to help them deal with social situations. They may feel that drinking makes it easier to speak their mind, connect with others, and enjoy themselves. For some, alcohol is a way to temporarily avoid dealing with the uncomfortable feelings that social interactions invoke. Once they go into recovery, introverted people often feel like they have no way of working through these emotions, and socializing may feel unbearable to deal with. They might start to isolate themselves or feel like they can’t maintain a social life once they’ve recovered. These feelings are common and completely normal. A professional recovery program will be able to help introverts manage their feelings and develop the skills to manage and enjoy social situations without alcohol
Introverts May Struggle with Popular Addiction Treatment Methods
As introverts are often so protective of their alone time, they may be anxious about starting a treatment program. For example, they might worry that group therapy may trigger their social anxiety, or they may be too shy to get involved in social activities. Luckily, in most cases, these fears turn out to be unfounded. Introverts often do great in recovery, as they naturally excel in being self-reflective and taking account of their internal lives. They’re often able to overcome their shyness which improves their self-confidence.
Are You Ready to Make a Change?
At Hickory Treatment Centers, we welcome introverts and extroverts with science-based clinical treatment. We tailor our approach to our service users’ unique needs so that our treatments can be as effective as possible. Introverted or not, we can create a custom treatment plan that works for you and support you along the way with any challenges you encounter. Please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss your options and any potential concerns you might have.
