During a pandemic, a lot of programs like Alcoholics Anonymous have had to change the way they operate. It may be difficult to safely find support for alcoholism. However, we have some tips to help you navigate these tough times. First off, virtual meetings are still happening and can give you support. And if you already have a sponsor, you can still call them or even meet outdoors when you need help. Now is the time to reach out to loved ones for help, because everybody is feeling the stress of one kind or another. It’s also a great time to establish boundaries in your own home to help with your recovery. And finally, blocking out people in your life that do not support your recovery is important. Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be able to safely find support.
How to Safely Find Support for Alcoholism: Adjusting to the “New Normal”
Virtual Meetings
Alcoholics Anonymous and other support groups have had to move to virtual meetings. But these are a great way to safely find support for alcoholism. You can still discuss your difficulties with others who share similar stress. And you can still rejoice with them as you reach your goals. If you have a sponsor, you can still get their support through phone or zoom calls. And if you are able, you could schedule a masked outdoor meeting at a safe distance with them. If you feel that talking to a therapist would help your recovery, there are many virtual options for those. A lot of therapists are doing online meetings and accepting new patients. Even though the in-person meetings have stopped, the community of support is very much still there for you. Lean on them when you are going through tough times.
Establish Boundaries at Home
Another way to safely find support for alcoholism is to confide in your friends and family. Your loved ones will want to help you with your recovery. Because so many are working from home there are added stresses. For example, homeschooling, social isolation, and feeling cooped up. It’s important to make a plan ahead of time in case things get overwhelming. You could have a designated quiet place in your house where you can escape for some self-care time. It’s also important to make sure that there is no alcohol in your home. Your partner should support you in your recovery efforts. One positive of Covid-19 is that bars and liquor stores are under strict curfew in a lot of areas. This will make alcohol harder to access and hopefully will help you recover.
Remove Toxic People
One product of so many people working from home is that social media has become a constant. Everybody is using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to stay connected to one another. Unfortunately, joking about heavy drinking has become very commonplace. Especially during the quarantine. Try to remove people from your newsfeed that often joke about drinking. It’s also wise to block posts that make you feel stressed. For example, political posts that you disagree with or virus statistics. If seeing certain things on your feed triggers feelings of stress, hide them or remove them. Taking toxic people out of your life is an important way to safely find support for alcoholism. Pandemic or not!
Learning how to safely find support for alcoholism is so important for your recovery. Especially in our current times which are filled with new stresses. Remember to reach out to loved ones for support, find virtual meetings, set boundaries, and eliminate toxic people from your life. Hopefully, these will help you with your recovery.
