Recovery skills as a tool to cope with COVID-19
There have been many times over the last several weeks where I have reached into my recovery tool kit to cope with our current scenario. For me, it hasn't been because I have wanted to return to use either, it has been to deal with this crazy time period we are in. I strongly believe that people in recovery are uniquely equipped to deal with COVID-19 in ways that many are not. I have talked to several of my friends in recovery who say a common thing in their own words......I have been to hell and back, and this all sucks, but in many ways this is nothing compared to what I have been through in my life.
Not all, but many in recovery have been through rough periods of life. I have experienced being in and out of jail, being on the streets, waking up time and time again not knowing what the hell I did the night before. I have experienced living a life where I walked from crisis to crisis not knowing what crisis would be next, but, for sure knowing something was going to hit again very soon. In my life I have seen hell. Hell in terms of having the feeling every day of just wanting it all to end. Hell in terms of not having a dime to piss on and even when I did get money, I would waste it on drugs and alcohol just to manage my constant thoughts wanting to die. I have experienced the constant feeling of impending doom.......always carrying the thought of "What next?"
This, what we are experiencing now, has propelled me back to early recovery in a lot of ways. I have found the use of skills I used in early recovery to manage day to day life in our uncertain and ever evolving times. I would encourage anyone to pick up some of these and use them yourself.
I find, everyday, things to be grateful fo in my life. I remember early recovery well. I have rebooted my entire life twice. Once at 29 and again at 40. In recovery we are taught to find things to be grateful for every day. Thus, in our current times, every day I wake up in a house, in a warm bed, and, I can take a warm shower and eat food, I am grateful. I have my health. I am able to be physically active and take care of myself. These are basic things that I am truly grateful right now. We are told, by our government, to stay home. I turn this into..I am grateful I have a home with many modern comforts to stay in. Find, every day, things to be grateful for in our life. They are there.
I stay in touch with people in my circle of support daily. Prior to COVID-19 I had a weekly lunch with friends at noon on Friday's. Immediately, when we went on the stay home, stay safe order, I created a Friday noon Zoom meeting. We still meet, just in our virtual world now. I communicate, regularly with those that I love and those that I know love me. My son, wife, friends and family. I, just like in early recovery and recovery now, get real with the the people I trust on days when I am feeling shitty and days when I am feeling good. Tap into your support people. Be real about how you are feeling, you will find support in the common struggle and it will help immensely.
Nutrition and Exercise is vital right now. People in recovery are taught to ensure they are paying attention to what they put in their body. These are times when I need to watch my caffeine and sugar intake because it has a direct effect on my stress levels. I ensure I am getting exercise of some sort daily. Exercise helps me cope with stress. Pay close attention to what you put in your body. We are all in our homes a lot.....it can be easy to eat too much.You can make a decision to manage this. Go outside every day and get some exercise. This is vital and highly appropriate if you are following the rules.
Managing your spiritual and mental health. For those in recovery we are taught to find our meaning in life. COVID-19 can bring a lot of our meaning into question. If you believe in god look for ways to get your support and teachings using methods that work in our current situation. My wife has been attending her church through Zoom. I find my contact with nature to be helpful for me. I find solace and calmness when I go for on my morning walk. I enjoy whole conversations with those whom I trust and value their opinion. You find yours. Find ways to participate in yoga, meditation, religion, or whatever it is that helps you stay in touch with your meaning.
If you know someone in recovery reach out to them. I know they will happily tell you how they are able to walk through this crazy time using the tools above and more. We, people in recovery, are uniquely equipped to walk through this time period.
Not all, but many in recovery have been through rough periods of life. I have experienced being in and out of jail, being on the streets, waking up time and time again not knowing what the hell I did the night before. I have experienced living a life where I walked from crisis to crisis not knowing what crisis would be next, but, for sure knowing something was going to hit again very soon. In my life I have seen hell. Hell in terms of having the feeling every day of just wanting it all to end. Hell in terms of not having a dime to piss on and even when I did get money, I would waste it on drugs and alcohol just to manage my constant thoughts wanting to die. I have experienced the constant feeling of impending doom.......always carrying the thought of "What next?"
This, what we are experiencing now, has propelled me back to early recovery in a lot of ways. I have found the use of skills I used in early recovery to manage day to day life in our uncertain and ever evolving times. I would encourage anyone to pick up some of these and use them yourself.
I find, everyday, things to be grateful fo in my life. I remember early recovery well. I have rebooted my entire life twice. Once at 29 and again at 40. In recovery we are taught to find things to be grateful for every day. Thus, in our current times, every day I wake up in a house, in a warm bed, and, I can take a warm shower and eat food, I am grateful. I have my health. I am able to be physically active and take care of myself. These are basic things that I am truly grateful right now. We are told, by our government, to stay home. I turn this into..I am grateful I have a home with many modern comforts to stay in. Find, every day, things to be grateful for in our life. They are there.
I stay in touch with people in my circle of support daily. Prior to COVID-19 I had a weekly lunch with friends at noon on Friday's. Immediately, when we went on the stay home, stay safe order, I created a Friday noon Zoom meeting. We still meet, just in our virtual world now. I communicate, regularly with those that I love and those that I know love me. My son, wife, friends and family. I, just like in early recovery and recovery now, get real with the the people I trust on days when I am feeling shitty and days when I am feeling good. Tap into your support people. Be real about how you are feeling, you will find support in the common struggle and it will help immensely.
Nutrition and Exercise is vital right now. People in recovery are taught to ensure they are paying attention to what they put in their body. These are times when I need to watch my caffeine and sugar intake because it has a direct effect on my stress levels. I ensure I am getting exercise of some sort daily. Exercise helps me cope with stress. Pay close attention to what you put in your body. We are all in our homes a lot.....it can be easy to eat too much.You can make a decision to manage this. Go outside every day and get some exercise. This is vital and highly appropriate if you are following the rules.
Managing your spiritual and mental health. For those in recovery we are taught to find our meaning in life. COVID-19 can bring a lot of our meaning into question. If you believe in god look for ways to get your support and teachings using methods that work in our current situation. My wife has been attending her church through Zoom. I find my contact with nature to be helpful for me. I find solace and calmness when I go for on my morning walk. I enjoy whole conversations with those whom I trust and value their opinion. You find yours. Find ways to participate in yoga, meditation, religion, or whatever it is that helps you stay in touch with your meaning.
If you know someone in recovery reach out to them. I know they will happily tell you how they are able to walk through this crazy time using the tools above and more. We, people in recovery, are uniquely equipped to walk through this time period.
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