Addiction recovery is never an easy process. It can be filled with many ups, downs, twists, and turns—then add in a global pandemic, and it has become more challenging than ever. Even though we are starting to see the other side of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, you may still be feeling burnt out from the news, changes in health measures, and the rise and fall of cases in your area. Keep reading to learn more about addiction recovery 2021 in the time of COVID and ways you can cope.
Addiction Recovery 2021: The Challenges
Have you noticed your addiction suffering this past year and a half? It’s no secret that the pandemic has presented its own set of challenges to everybody, but especially to those in addiction recovery. If your recovery has been challenging, you have likely been experiencing one of four significant challenges: Isolation, fewer resources, lack of support, and a change to your routine.
Isolation
If there has been one thing we have been told to do, above all else, it has been to stay inside and quarantine as much as possible. Businesses were closed, processes changed, and everyone had to adjust to their everyday lives while entirely at home. While this was all for the greater good of public health, it can surely leave individuals feeling pretty isolated and alone. Isolation can quickly lead to depression, according to the American Psychological Association, and depression will quickly lead to a relapse. Whether you had been sober for ten days or ten years before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, isolation can be highly triggering.
This isolation can also lead to changes in daily habits and, in essence, getting “used to” the isolation. So, if you are in recovery and are feeling confident in your recovery even while isolated, it can still lead to issues down the road if you don’t take measures in protecting your sobriety and mental health.
Fewer Resources
During the height of the pandemic, resources were limited. Most treatment centers, such as our Malibu recovery center, remained open due to its status as an essential business. However, many other resources may have been scaled back or shut down completely. Aside from the practicalities of keeping resources available, many individuals may have just simply been too afraid to access resources due to the fear of contracting the virus. Affected resources for addiction recovery 2021 can include:
- Recovery meetings
- Group counseling
- Individual counseling
- Detox centers
- Doctor’s offices
- Sober support groups
Lack of Support
If you were used to playing with your volleyball group every Saturday, visiting your family regularly, or seeing your sober support group whenever you wanted, you were feeling the challenge of having a lack of support. Although support can still be given over the phone or on video chat, it is not the same for many people.
Change to Routine
Keeping a busy schedule, having a social life, maintaining hobbies, staying healthy, and doing things with your family are all very important for long-lasting successful recovery. However, COVID-19 likely turned all of this upside down. Staying at home day in and day out, not seeing friends, letting go of certain hobbies, eating junk, and not staying active were likely more of your reality. While there is nothing wrong with indulging now and then, the COVID-19 pandemic might have handed you some bad habits. A significant change in routine can quickly lead to relapse, so trying your best to go back to a healthy routine is important.
Addiction Recovery in 2021
Whether you suffer from abusing dangerous prescription drugs, alcohol, or challenges with your mental health, it is crucial that you seek help before it gets too late. Addiction recovery in 2021 might look a little different than before, but that doesn’t mean that our alcohol rehabilitation center isn’t here to support you every step of the way as we usually would.
About Seasons in Malibu
If you’re ready to overcome your addiction suffering that has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, treatment at Seasons in Malibu is systemic, integrative, and client-centered. Our philosophy is grounded in the understanding that the entire system needs the opportunity to heal along with them for the client to heal.
It is a priority for us that our life-changing drug and alcohol treatment be available to the people who need it. We are thoroughly familiar with how much strength and courage it takes to pick up the phone and ask for help. Our counselors are invested in your well-being and are ready around the clock to guide you or a trusted friend or family member through the initial steps of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction.
With our outstanding team of clinicians, we can succinctly pinpoint those areas of focus that will give the client the most advanced opportunity for success. Our approach towards healing is collaborative, comprehensive, and committed.
