How To Stay Sober Through a Global Catastrophe

As we are enduring the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, many people are experiencing the hardest parts of life during a time of self isolation. Experiencing the loss of a friend or loved one, having those close to you contract a potentially fatal illness, losing a job, and even getting sick yourself are scary and emotional events. These things can be triggering, and unfortunately increase stress, and therefore the danger of a relapse taking place. Feeling isolated does not help with this situation either. However, there are some things that you can do to stay sober during these tough times. Here are some ways on how to stay sober through a global catastrophe.

1. Continue Your Therapy Online
Addiction treatment and recovery usually involves one or more therapy types. Attending therapy is a crucial element to treatment for multiple reasons. The first reason is that therapy is an excellent tool for learning how to understand triggers and manage addiction cravings. This type of support is especially important during a global catastrophe because of all the emotions surrounding this kind of event. Due to the fact that mental health issues and conditions can also cause relapse, therapy is important for treating these things as well. Luckily, most therapists have continued their appointments online via video chats or phone calls.

2. Attend Support Group Zoom Meetings
Like online therapy sessions, support group meetings have moved online since the Coronavirus pandemic has started. Support groups are a great way to connect with others who understand what addiction treatment and recovery is really like. It also gives recovering addicts the opportunity to meet people who are farther into recovery than they are themselves. This can be a motivator that not only encourages recovering addicts to continue with their treatment but also that achieving a successful sober life is possible.
                                                                                                                   
3. Stay Connected With Your Close Friends and Family
Keeping in contact with close friends and family is extremely important for maintaining a sober living home. Self isolation and social distancing can, at times, feel incredibly lonely. However, phone calls, text, and video calls are ways that you can stay in close contact with your support system safely. Doing these things can reduce the chances of a relapse occurring, and it can help improve feelings of loneliness and anxiety.

4. Keep Yourself Busy
Keeping yourself busy throughout the day is important for all recovering addicts, but this is especially true for those going through a drug detox. Keeping yourself occupied provides a distraction from withdrawal symptoms and addiction cravings. It can also be a great way to keep your mind off of the elements of a global catastrophe. Starting a new hobby, reading, writing, exercising, and exploring creative outlets are productive and healthy ways to keep yourself busy from home during addiction treatment and recovery.

5. Try To Keep Up a Routine
 One of the best ways to keep yourself busy everyday is having a set daily routine. Although working from home or losing a job can disrupt your old routines, establishing a new daily routine or maintaining an old one greatly improves the chances for success in addiction treatment. Establishing a set time to wake up, eat meals, and go to sleep is a great way to get a daily routine started. Doing things like creating an exercise routine and attending virtual support group meetings can help with forming a daily routine as well.

Continue Living a Healthy Lifestyle
The main goal of addiction treatment is to improve the health of a recovering addict. However, oftentimes there are multiple lifestyle changes that need to occur before a healthy sober life is achieved. Eating a healthy diet, keeping yourself hydrated, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are simple things that you can do to improve your health. These things help with both managing withdrawal symptoms and creating a sustainable daily routine. For example, strength training has been proven to help reduce insomnia and staying hydrated has been shown to help with managing nausea. Having an exercise routine and taking the time out of your day to prepare healthy meals and get enough sleep help with creating a daily routine as well. It is important to continue to maintain your health during a global catastrophe.

Conclusion
Staying sober during a global catastrophe can be hard, but there are things that you can do to continue addiction treatment safely from home. Luckily, we live during a time with plenty of technological tools that we can use during times of self isolation. For example, therapy sessions have begun to take place over the phone or on video calls, and support group meetings are now taking place over zoom. Staying in contact with close friends and family is also easier than it ever has been before. Keeping up with having therapy sessions, attending support group meetings, and staying in contact with your support system are still possible and extremely beneficial. In addition having a daily routine, keeping yourself busy, and living a healthy lifestyle are ways that you can distract yourself from and manage addiction cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Author bio:
Kelsey Brown is an Austin-based writer. She received her B.S. in Journalism from Missouri State University and writes about addiction recovery, health, and well-being for Briarwood Detox Center. In her spare time, Kelsey enjoys doing outdoor activities with her family like hiking, camping, and kayaking.