Here I comment on isolation and the cycle of loneliness giving rise to addiction. Addiction is a lonely disease and this cycle can be broken through fellowship and friendship, and embrace the need for human connection.

People who find themselves actively using substances to cope with depression, anxiety and stressful situations use drugs and alcohol or any other harmful behaviour to avoid their feelings and reality. They live with fear, denial, and guilt. Trapped in those overwhelming emotions it is clear that people who are addicted often cover up their fears with anger, verbal and emotional abusive behaviour, and show false courage.

People struggling with addiction are hurting and in turn, they hurt those around them, as the disease of addiction progresses, many people lose friends and damage relationships with family members.

Isolation and loneliness in addiction can leave people with feelings such as being unable to connect with anyone physically or emotionally, feeling disconnected from others, feelings sad there is no one available to talk to, be with or understand.

Beating isolation in addiction recovery should be making amends and making peace where amends are not possible, whether in situations where relationships are damaged beyond repair and making peace with knowing you have apologised.

I used this medium of a ballpoint pen because for me it shows more detail and I can bring that colour to artworks with different colour ballpoint pens. I was also on the journey to improvement with pen, taking a break from all the mediums I have been using such as oil pastels, graphite pencils, paint and charcoal.