Sobriety can be difficult when the world is operating business-as-usual, but with the added stress of COVID-19, it can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Loss of jobs, social isolation, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future can add up and chip away at a person’s resolve to stay sober. Furthermore, advertisements, media, and popular culture often bombard us with images and messaging that drinking during social isolation is the new normal.
If you’ve found yourself experiencing additional stress and surrounded by temptation due to the pandemic, know that you are not alone. There is help for you at Phoenix House Florida’s drug and alcohol treatment centers in Tampa. We have a few tips to help you stay sober during pandemic stress, no matter your situation.
Related: Overcoming Opioid Addiction During the Pandemic
Clean Up Your Social Media Feed
Just as you would remove yourself from tempting situations in the world, you should also avoid consuming media that may cause temptations or trigger old habits. Friends who constantly share posts highlighting drinking or celebrities who encourage alcohol abuse can cause sobriety to feel more difficult. Consider cleaning up your social media feed and following positive and sober friends, celebrities, and influencers instead.
Along these lines, it may be beneficial to be mindful of the media you consume during the quarantine. TV, movies, and other types of media that glorify or amplify alcohol abuse can make it more difficult to keep your mind centered and focused on sobriety. You don’t need to unfollow friends who drink forever and you don’t need to avoid certain types of media forever, but you should take a step back and think of the things you see in your newsfeed which may be detrimental to your sobriety. When you are in a strong place in recovery, you may want to add those friends and celebrities back into your social media feed; however, for now, you should consider cutting ties with friends online who are detrimental to your recovery.
Related: How to Stay Sober When Surrounded By Drugs and Alcohol
Focus on Routine and Care
Routine is an important part of recovery at Phoenix House Florida’s alcohol abuse treatment center in Tampa. Our daily habits become our routines, which can lead us to, or away from, self-medicating with alcohol. With so much of today’s worries outside of our control, it’s important to focus on simple things that we can control. An example of this is waking up at a specific time every day, showering, and getting dressed (even if you plan to stay home).
Focusing on care, both self-care and the care of something or someone else, can be a beneficial part of your routine. Caring for yourself can be as simple as setting aside 20 minutes every day to write in a journal, take a bath, or meditate. Another example of a positive self-care routine is to schedule hobbies or self-care and create a daily time to exercise or simply get outside.
Providing care to others, for example tending a garden or potted plant, caring for a pet, or tending a child’s needs, will also give the sense of stability and structure that are so important during recovery. Altogether, these healthy habits can improve sleep quality and lead to better overall health.
Do Not Be Afraid to Seek Treatment and Help
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, help is still available no matter what is happening with the pandemic. Many states have deemed in-person recovery meetings to be considered essential. Virtual recovery meetings and telehealth services are also available through Phoenix House Florida. Whether in person, on the phone, or through video chat, help is available.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, speak with a treatment specialist at an alcohol abuse treatment center in Tampa. To schedule a consultation with Phoenix House Florida, please contact us today.
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