How Do You Maintain Recovery During A Nationally Mandated Quarantine Caused By A Pandemic?

People in addiction recovery, and recovery itself, rely heavily on routine and predictability.  However, when there is a national quarantine in place due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, how do you maintain recovery when you’re faced with the unknown?  What are you doing or what should you be doing in terms of self-care to help you or a loved one in recovery get through this? These are unprecedented times; really like nothing we have seen before.  There are some historical comparisons, but there is no denying that this past week, especially, has been quite the anomaly.  We are also not sure how long “this” is going to last.  It could be two weeks or it could be two months.  Here are some tips for successfully getting through this time of social distancing while being in recovery. First, if you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with your treatment provider.  See what options they are offering in place of individual counseling, support groups, and doctors’ appointments.  Although BrightView has temporarily postponed all group counseling sessions until further notice, we are highly encouraging our patients to connect with their individual counselors and physicians via online meetings or telehealth, which are essentially virtual face to face meetings of patient and prescriber, or patient and counselor.  If you are a BrightView patient, and are interested in participating in this, please contact us at 833-510-4357.  New to treatment? BrightView treatment centers are still accepting new patients and scheduling intakes and assessments, so you can call the previously mentioned number any time of the day, and we will get you scheduled. It’s easier said than done, but if you can disconnect from social media, even for an hour a day, this can improve your overall well being. I know, it seems a little redundant because you are reading this on the internet at the moment, however, taking some time away from flipping through channel after channel or post after post of COVID-19 news, statistics, warnings, and regulations can wear anyone down and it’s important to take care of your mental health.  By setting down your phone, turning off your push notifications, and picking up a book or purchasing an e-book (it’s the most logical form of accessing a new book during quarantine) or an audible book, and devoting an hour to reading you might find that mental break to be exactly what you need each day.  Don’t have any good books to read on hand?  BrightView has you covered, check out these top 20 books about recovery, which are all able to be downloaded and read virtually via Amazon.  Or, check out these free e-books from Barnes & Noble. Keep in mind there is no better time than now to embrace the saying “one day at a time”. Here are a few more suggestions to try to pass the time:

• Revisit an old hobby
• Write out the lyrics of your favorite song
• Hand-write a thank you note to someone who means something to you in recovery
• Watch an episode or two about nature
• Reconnect with old (supportive) friends via Facetime
• Start a journal or blog, or pick up where you left off
• Meditate
• Yoga or Workout classes (free on YouTube)
• Step outside and take five deep breaths
• Cook or bake something from scratch
• Listen to a Recovery Podcast like Tragedy to Triumph
• Give yourself a manicure and pedicure
• Learn the skill that you always said you would but never had time to do
• Find something to keep your hands busy for 10-20 minutes at a time
• ​Do something that you can see the outcome of your work instantly like crafting
• Hop on Pinterest for ideas
• Dance
• Listen to nature
• Bust out old puzzles or board games
• Give your dog a bath
• Clean out your closet/pantry/junk drawer
• Make a photo book of your top photos with your camera roll on your phone
• Take a bubble bath

If you are struggling with substance abuse, we encourage you to contact us today. Our friendly and caring recovery center staff answer the phones 24 hours a day. 1-833-510-HELP