All of us at Hope By The Sea would like to wish everyone a safe and sober holiday weekend. This Easter and Passover weekend is going to be quite different than in previous years. Millions of Americans will not be able to attend their houses of worship or sit around the dinner table with family owing to the pandemic. It’s a reality that could jeopardize the lives of countless people in recovery.
As you are probably aware, the public health crisis has significantly worsened since we last wrote to you. The number of new COVID-19 cases has nearly doubled (467,184), and the death toll has risen sharply (16,736 people). During these holy days, we hope that you will take a moment to send out your thoughts and prayers to the victims’ families.
Holidays are typically stressful times for men and women in recovery. The ongoing and upcoming holiday is likely to be even more burdensome given the coronavirus outbreak. Each of us is on high alert and are overly anxious about contracting a potentially deadly virus. With that in mind, everyone in recovery should put in extra effort to connect with their support network.
You can also benefit from attending more meetings than usual, either online or in-person, if your group is still gathering. Not every meetinghouse has locked its doors; some are choosing to host meetings while also following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Please reach out for support however you deem safe. As long as you contact your support group peers on a regular basis, then you should be able to get through the weekend without putting your program at risk.
Keeping Busy in Recovery is Vital
You are probably one of the millions of Americans who are sheltering in place and following stay at home orders from your local and state officials. This means that you are finding yourself with an excessive amount of idle time, which is never beneficial for men and women in recovery.
Hopefully, you are finding ways to keep yourself occupied and stay positive despite the ever-present risks outside your home. There is a myriad of ways to keep yourself busy while at home that will prevent you from negative thinking. What’s more, you can engage in activities that can strengthen your recovery as well.
Aside from The Big Book, there is a plethora of recovery-related reading material, audiobooks, and podcasts that can help you cope with your newfound isolation. We encourage you to utilize the many resources available online. Below you will find some excellent examples for productively filling your days.
Books:
- Rewired: A Bold New Approach To Addiction and Recovery by Erica Spiegelman
- The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown
- Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein
- Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola
- Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man and 90 Days by Bill Clegg
- Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions by Russell Brand
- Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy and Beautiful Boy by David Sheff
- We All Fall Down and Tweak by Nic Sheff
- The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison
- High On Arrival: A Memoir by Mackenzie Phillips
Podcasts:
- Unlocking Us by Brené Brown Ph.D.
- The Bubble Hour by Jean McCarthy
- Busy Living Sober by Elizabeth (Bizzy) Chance
- The Addicted Mind by Duane Osterlind
- Breaking Free: Your Recovery. Your Way by Olivia Pennelle & Tiffany Thoen, RN
- Recovery Happy Hour by Tricia Lewis
- ODAAT Chatby Arlina
- A Sober Girls Guide by Jessica Jeboult
- The Sober Guy by Shane Ramer
- Recovered by Mark S.
We hope you will take the time to check some of the above resources for men and women in recovery. They will help keep your mind focused on making continued progress during these unique times.
Southern California Addiction Treatment Center
Please contact Hope By The Sea if you or a loved one require assistance for alcohol or substance use disorder. Our team of addiction professionals is following CDC guidelines as we help clients break the cycle of addiction and begin the journey of long-term recovery.
