It’s hard to manage recovery in Covid 19 lockdown. We’re used to connecting with hugs and in person meetings. Our hearts are breaking for those in isolation who are losing their battle with addiction. We’ve lost some of our own friends and know people who are relapsing because support from afar is not the same as a hug and fellowship in Starbucks, or the coffee spot of your choice. We beg you to keep connected as connection is the foundation of recovery. If you lose it, the beast will be back into your head and beat you down. Here are some things you can do to manage your recovery when you can’t go out.
OnlineOnline Meetings
There are websites like intherooms.com that provide 12-step meetings and a recovery community environment online. Online meetings have been an enormous relief for me when I’m traveling, but they are great for any time you want to stay home and get your recovery. Or when you’re on a Covid-19 lockdown.
Speaker Tapes
A quick Google search just informed me that there are a plethora of sites that provide more speaker tapes than you’ll know what to do with. Just go onto your favorite search engine and search for your program and speaker tapes, and you will find what you need. The AA central office site has a speaker site where tapes available.
Recovery Apps
Recovery in 2020 means apps. There are many apps for recovery available like Sober Grid, which provides community, recovery coaching, and other services. Just find it online and click on how it works to get the full download. Need to meditate? I am a big fam of Calm. Calm provides guided meditations, and meditations especially created to help you relax and sleep. Now, is an ideal time to practice mindfulness and meditation to stay on the beam.
Make Calls
You have numbers. You’ve been storing them for years. Use them now. Call your sober sisters and brothers, call your sober family members, call the people on your meeting phone list. Stay connected and let someone know if you’re struggling. We are in a global pandemic! Let’s comfort each other through this.
Entertainment
I love movies and TV. Maybe this isn’t the best moment to re-watch Trainspotting or Breaking Bad, but there are plenty of other choices that can help you stay uplifted and help pass the time. Laughter is medicine, and between streaming and cable, you can find many hilarious things to watch.
Catch-Up On Recovery Work
I’ll admit it, I’m stalled on step 4 in a relatively new program. Perhaps this is my Higher Power’s friendly way of giving me the time to finish my recovery work. For me, work work can also be recovery work, and there’s plenty for me to catch up with there too. Let’s take this lovely opportunity to read that recovery book, finish that step work, or journal that tenth step.
