When the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm earlier this year, millions of lives were shaken up all over the globe. Whether you are dealing with financial issues, job loss, a social shakeup, health problems, or balancing your children’s needs with your own — there is not one person who hasn’t been affected. One of the biggest side effects of following local social health guidelines and precautions includes isolation. Isolation can be devastating for people in recovery, so keep reading for our best tips on navigating isolation and symptoms of alcoholism in the time of COVID.
Tip #1 for Isolation and Addiction in the Time of COVID: Make a Plan
Local health guidelines, business ordinances, precautions, and numbers of cases change all the time — seemingly even at the drop of a hat. Uncertainty is an enemy of addiction, as people in recovery thrive largely on routine and predictability. As such, it is important to make sure you plan for what you are able to control in the midst of so much uncertainty.
A couple of ways you can make a plan to avoid isolation include:
- Schedule your day. Routine is extremely important in recovery. Even though your daily routine has likely shaken up multiple times since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to control what you can. What time you wake up and go to bed, your work hours, scheduled phone calls, and daily goals are all things you can do no matter what is happening outside your front door.
- Create short-term and long-term goals. Plan out some daily, weekly, and even monthly goals. Even daily goals as little as showering are important during quarantine, as they can seem less and less important the more time you spend alone. Do more things, such as cleaning that pesky junk cabinet out or getting a vegetable garden going, to stay busy around the house.
- Find what you’re comfortable with. Another big way you can plan ahead to navigate isolation and addiction in the time of COVID is to find what you’re comfortable with. What businesses are you willing to patronize? What people are you willing to see? Be realistic so that when the opportunity presents itself, you won’t feel pressured or confused.
Tip #2: Expand Your Bubble
Something you may want to consider when it comes to isolation and addiction in the time of COVID is to expand your bubble. If you have like-minded friends or family who are all willing to follow the same quarantine guidelines and social health measures as you, it would be beneficial to your mental health to consider expanding your bubble.
Expanding your bubble can be great to be able to have small get-togethers, have your children play with each other, be able to celebrate important events, and be able to have some sense of normalcy amid all the unusual things going on in the world.
Tip #3: Practice Self-Care
No matter what the situation is, practicing self-care is one of the most important things you can do in recovery — and that is especially true while navigating isolation and addiction in the time of COVID.
As you know, one of the most important parts of maintaining a successful long-term recovery includes keeping stress levels as low as possible. This can seem especially difficult during this time, making it all the more important to keep at the forefront no matter how busy or stressful your day may be.
Whether it is running a bubble bath at the end of a long day, playing with your dog, getting in a sweaty workout, or watching a funny Amy Schumer movie on Netflix — do something every day that makes you smile and get those natural feel-good hormones moving. If you’ve had an especially hard day, make sure you hop on a virtual meeting or reach out to someone in your support network.
About Seasons in Malibu
In some instances, the isolation from COVID-19 might get the best of people. If this happens to you, make sure you act as quickly as possible and get help before a small bump in the road turns into a fatal overdose. Seasons in Malibu is a California State licensed healthcare facility, and just like a hospital, we are authorized to accept and treat patients in need of care during this time.
Seasons in Malibu is a CARF-accredited, licensed, substance abuse, alcohol treatment centers and mental health treatment center in beautiful Malibu, CA. We specialize in treating a wide variety of addictions, such as alcohol dependence, opiate addiction, cocaine addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, and prescription drug abuse. We are also licensed and accredited to treat mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, complex trauma, and PTSD.
With our superior team of clinicians, we are able to 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.
Our serene and intimate luxury rehab facility, nestled in one of the planet’s most stunning stretches in Malibu, California is an ideal setting for individuals seeking transformative care for addiction, as well as primary mental health disorders. Seasons in Malibu is a cutting-edge, highly-rated rehabilitation center recently featured in Newsweek’s Excellence in Dependency 2019 edition, and has been named one of the world’s premier rehab facilities by Consumer Affairs with a 5-star rating.
