The COVID-19 pandemic has seen much of the world placed on lockdown. Affecting many aspects of our lives from going to work and socialising to attending events and even being able to pop to the shop, Coronavirus has had a big impact on all of our lives.
A big concern for anyone recovering from addiction is how being stuck in quarantine is going to affect their recovery and ability to prevent relapse.
Even during these stressful times, there are many things you can do to aid your addiction treatment. Below we discuss how to protect your recovery during COVID-19 quarantine.
Try to Avoid Triggers
The lack of social contact and boredom we’re facing during isolation can be big triggers for relapse. It’s therefore more important than ever to be aware of what your triggers are and what might be having a negative impact on your mental health.
If boredom is a known trigger of yours, try to keep as busy as possible. If you can, throw yourself into work. If you can’t work or need a break from your job, this is a great time to spring clean the house, start a new exercise regime (there are plenty of home workout ideas on YouTube), learn a new skill, volunteer or study towards a qualification.
Loneliness is going to be another big cause of relapse for many people. Sadly, we’re not allowed to see friends and family face-to-face but thanks to technology, there are many different ways we can stay in touch with loved ones.
If you’re still working, video conferences are a great way to check in with colleagues and get some face-to-face interaction. Also schedule regular video calls with friends and family because this can help alleviate feelings of loneliness.
If you’re ever feeling the urge to relapse, please schedule an appointment with your counsellor as soon as possible. Even if you can’t meet face-to-face, they will be able to talk to you over the telephone or via a video call.
Find online support groups
Everyone is struggling to come to terms with how Coronavirus is affecting our lives, even those who aren’t in recovery. It’s going to take time to find our new ‘normal’ and it’s perfectly understandable that we’re going to have good days and bad days.
Communication is going to be crucial during the next few months. If you’re having a tough time, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone for help. Sometimes venting or even just realising that other people are finding this tough as well, can be a big help.
Alcoholics Anonymous has a web page dedicated to online options including Zoom and Google Hangouts. Narcotics Anonymous provides similar information and other sites such as Recovery Speakers have recordings and guest blogs covering all aspects of addiction, treatment and recovery.
Please remember that you can always speak to us at Toronto Trauma and Addiction Counselling as well. We’re only ever a phone call or email away.
Look after your mental health
If your mental health is in a good place, you’re far more likely to avoid relapse. If you’re feeling stressed, depressed and overwhelmed however, it’s natural that you’re going to be more likely to give into feelings of temptation.
Below are some great ways to protect your mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Limit the amount of time you spend reading or watching things that aren’t making you feel better. It may be tempting to constantly check in with the news at the moment but this can lead to serious anxiety. Try to avoid speculation and only consume information from reliable sources, such as government websites.
- Keep in touch with friends and family on a regular basis via telephone, email, social media or video calls. If social media is making you feel anxious, however, avoid using it.
- Stick to your regular counselling sessions through phone and video calls.
- Try to keep busy. You can work, find a new hobby, do some DIY, learn something new, start an exercise program or watch a box set.
- Manage your social media accounts if they’re making you feel anxious. This may mean deleting or muting people who are talking about Coronavirus too much or completely avoiding logging in altogether.
- Acknowledge that it’s ok not to feel great at the moment and that we all cope in different ways. Some people might be getting through each day by throwing themselves into a new exercise regime while for others, complete rest may be the best thing for their mental health right now. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. We’re all different and what works for one person might not work for another.
Stick to your counselling sessions
Most practices are offering remote counselling sessions at the moment. This can be done via video calls or normal telephone conversations. Be rest assured that you will be able to continue your sessions as normal. Even if it doesn’t feel the same as a face-to-face session, it’s very important that you stick to your regular scheduled sessions during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Not only are you likely to be feeling stressed and overwhelmed at the moment, maintaining some form of normality can greatly help to reduce the likelihood of relapsing.
If you would like to discuss your addiction recovery program, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Toronto Trauma and Addiction Counselling.
