Look for the similarities, not the differences, in the rooms of recovery. It’s sometimes easier said than done, but when you find ways in which you relate, it changes everything—it can help you maintain your sobriety. During these challenging times, no one can afford to see themselves as somehow different from their peers.
The disease of addiction is more powerful and exacts more significant influence over people when one is in exile. There is a reason why the majority of men and women cannot stay abstinent on their own.
It’s been many months since life became isolating. COVID-19 has forced most people to steer clear of others to avoid contraction. Isolation, while safeguarding, is not healthy for the demographic who has a history of addiction. Solitariness is antithetical to recovery programs rooted in fellowship; feeling friendless and alone can be a catalyst for relapse.
You are not alone, even if it feels that way. Millions of people are in a similar boat, and each member of 12 Step fellowships has had to adapt to keep their program intact. Technology has proven to be a faithful ally of men and women in recovery.
Never in history has the phone been so vital to protecting one’s progress. Computers, tablets, and smartphones give individuals the power to connect and carry the message of recovery to newcomers. Even in quarantine, men and women can work together to keep the disease of addiction at bay.
Meeting Makers Make It in Recovery
People in recovery have little difficulty making up excuses for putting their program’s needs on the backburner. Sometimes, it’s a struggle to muster the strength to get to a meeting. What’s more, cellphones can feel extremely heavy when you have to make a call that you don’t want to make.
Since many meetings are still in limbo because of coronavirus, some might use it as an excuse to rest on their laurels. One might think that they have enough clean and sober time to protect their program on their own. However, now is not the time to harbor mindsets that separate you from the fellowship.
Even if you cannot attend meetings in person – because of closures or pre-existing health conditions – you can still participate in your recovery. Millions of people are connecting via video conferencing platforms. You can still connect with your peers. What’s more, you can even branch out and attend virtual meetings with people living in other states and countries.
Previously, you would have had to physically travel to attend an AA or NA meeting in Australia or Scotland. Now, you can do so from the comforts of your own home; you can hear the message of recovery from a fellow alcoholic or addict who is 10,000 miles away from you. If you think about it, it’s pretty neat. Right?
The point is that you still have ample opportunity to protect your hard-fought progress. Please do not let COVID-19 be an excuse for letting up on your program. More people than usual have experienced relapses of late; hopefully, they find their way back to the Rooms quickly. You don’t have to count yourself among them if you continue to prioritize your recovery. Meeting makers make it in recovery.
Orange County Addiction Treatment Center
If you face challenges due to drug or alcohol use, please contact Hope By The Sea to learn more about our programs and services. Whether you recently suffered a relapse or are attempting recovery for the first time, Hope Starts Here. We utilize evidence-based therapies to help men and women create lasting change in their lives.
