Overcoming an addiction is hard at the best of times, with between 40–60% of addicts relapsing at least once during their road to recovery.
Add a global pandemic into the mix, and even the most determined recovering addict may struggle to stay on the straight and narrow.
From concerns over the availability of help to the additional life pressures that come hand in hand with a health crisis of this magnitude, if you are currently suffering from an addiction, you may not think that now is the best time to start your recovery.
However, you would be wrong.
Whether you’re attempting to go sober for the first time or you’re ready to have another try at recovery, there is help out there for those that need it.
Keep reading to discover more about how you can overcome your addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic. The first day of the rest of your life may just be sooner than you think.
1. Be ready to change
Pandemic or not, you need to be ready to accept help and make the necessary changes to your life if you want to overcome your addiction.
If you find yourself making excuses as to why you can’t get help at this time, such as a lack of face-to-face appointments, then you need to think long and hard about whether or not you are ready to seek treatment.
That being said, even if you are not sure you are committed to a treatment plan, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still seek advice and support from a mental health professional or addiction counsellor.
2. Find the right treatment centre
Once you’ve made the decision to get help, you need to take the first step towards starting a treatment plan.
Due to the pandemic, this might look slightly different than before, namely, that your initial consultation may be carried out virtually.
That being said, this can, in fact, be less daunting than a face-to-face meeting and allow you to make a better decision about whether or not the treatment facility in question is the right choice for you.
You may prefer to stay local, but some states offer better rehab facilities than others. Some rehab centres are significantly more relaxed, providing highly successful treatment programmes with a chilled out and non-confrontational vibe.
Kevin Lee, CEO of Journey Pure, Florida Alcohol & Drug Rehab, explains: ‘Although some favour the tough love approach to addiction, research has confirmed time and time again that it is compassion, support, and trust that helps to prevent relapses.’
3. Embrace online support
If you are not ready for a treatment centre or you are not able to be admitted to one due to lockdown restrictions, you can still find support and help online.
There are many virtual 12-step programmes available that can help to fill the void of any cancelled support groups and meetings, many of which include online group sessions for peer support.
That being said, you may find it difficult to make connections without face-to-face contact.
If this is the case, you may want to explore other virtual options such as video chats, apps, web-based treatments, and even virtual reality seminars.
If you already have a sponsor, don’t be afraid to connect with them more often as you navigate this challenging time, even if this is only via phone or text.
The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. If you need help, there are plenty of resources available (including free ones) that are ready and waiting for you to use them.
Do not suffer in silence.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the founder of Psychreg and host of The DRH Show. You can connect with him on Twitter @drelojo_howell
