Alcohol Addiction

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It’s almost been a year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. When the first lockdown began, it sparked a lot of changes in our lives. Suddenly, we were wearing masks to run our errands, working from home, and fighting over the last roll of toilet paper at the grocery store. Staying in became the norm, and our favorite businesses were closing down, some of them permanently. On top of it all, we were worried about the health of ourselves and our loved ones, with no idea how long this stressful situation would last. With all the worry, fear and uncertainty the coronavirus brought with it, a lot of people started drinking more to try and cope. In fact, this is a pretty common response to catastrophic or traumatic events like a pandemic, war or natural disaster. After 9/11, there was an immediate and lasting increase in alcohol use among Manhattanites, with similar patterns seen in the South after Hurricane Katrina. It’s not surprising, since rises in problematic drinking are associated with increased stress and anxiety, which we are seeing again with COVID-19. But unlike other traumatic events, COVID-19 is still happening. It isn’t a single moment in time that, when it’s over, we can try to process and put behind us — it's this long, drawn-out episode that we still have to deal with on a daily basis. Although lockdown has ended and a vaccine has been developed, most of us are finding that “getting back to normal” is still a long way off. So we’re also seeing increased drinking due to the ongoing effects of social isolation, job insecurity, financial strain and health worries. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Increased drinking and relapse have been common throughout the pandemic, but there are ways you can curb your alcohol consumption and learn how to cope with the stress in a healthier way. The first step is reaching out for help. If you’re already in recovery or part of a 12-step program, connect with your peers to talk about the problems you’re facing. You don’t have to go through this alone, and most programs offer online support groups that you can log in to from the comfort of your home. Or, if you need to get out of the house, check to see if in-person meetings are available in your area — some groups are gathering face-to-face again, following social distancing guidelines and mask-wearing mandates to keep participants safe. If you’re not in a treatment program but want to get help for your drinking, don’t hesitate to reach out and make that first phone call. Treatment centers like Avalon Malibu have remained open with new policies in place to ensure the health and well-being of patients during COVID-19. It’s also important to recognize harmful drinking patterns. Most people are surprised to hear that consuming four or five drinks within two hours constitutes binge drinking. When you’re feeling bored and stuck at home, it’s really easy to hit this threshold. But by learning how much is too much, paying attention to the amount you drink and setting a safe limit for yourself, you can become more conscious of your drinking habits and whether or not you need to cut down. Of course, for those with addiction issues, this is easier said than done. That’s where step one comes in again — reach out for help when you need it, and reinforce healthy coping strategies with guidance from your peers, recovery team and support groups. A relapse doesn’t mean failure, especially during stressful times like the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s essential to regain a foothold in your recovery and utilize the support that’s available to you. Don’t ignore mental health symptoms. You might be feeling more stressed, anxious and depressed than usual during the pandemic, and if ignored, these emotions can trigger a relapse or lead to problematic drinking. Now is the time to prioritize your mental health and address any symptoms you may be feeling, lest they continue to brew beneath the surface and stir up a crisis. To meet the growing need for mental health support, many mental health providers have made their services more accessible than ever with virtual care options and same-day appointments for mental health screening, therapy, counseling, medication management and more. When it comes to maintaining your recovery, this is a crucial step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Your mental, physical and emotional health are all connected, and neglecting one can have a huge impact on your general well-being. Navigating the pandemic has been difficult for all of us, and there’s no shame in reaching out for help when you need it — prioritizing your mental health now will make a difference in the long run.

Resentment may play an important role in fueling an addiction or as a potential trigger for relapse. It may have even been somebody’s resentments towards themselves or another that began their substance abuse as a way of numbing these negative emotions. Healing these deep-seated feelings of resentment is crucial because resentment can sneak up on you, fester and ultimately be a big roadblock to success in long-term sobriety. As difficult as it is to look at the resentment you hold and unpack it with honesty, it is worth the commitment to heal your past and free yourself from the grips of resentment.

A widely-held belief is that 12-Step programs are religious in nature, and if you are an atheist or agnostic who wishes to participate, then good luck. This is not the case and is a common misconception people have. An important distinction to make to understand the true intent behind 12-Step programs is realizing the difference between religious and spiritual.

Recovery is a transformative experience where each person can set future goals and discover new practices that can lead to a new, sober lifestyle. However, recovery is challenging and requires a great deal of commitment.  Nothing about overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol is easy, and coping with the anxiety, depression, or withdrawal symptoms that accompany the process can add even more hurdles. Despite the difficulty, recovery is always possible. However, it demands that each individual be willing to commit themselves wholly to their transformation both inside and outside the recovery sphere.

Instant gratification is everywhere in the world around us, except in recovery. Recovery is no overnight process, with a winding journey unique to each individual with several phases — detox, rehab, ongoing care, and sober living. Developing a strong patience muscle will help you withstand the pains and disappointments of not just recovery but also in life. Joyce Mayer said it best when she described patience as, “not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” Recovery can teach us many things about ourselves, and one of the most valuable lessons to be learned is patience.

It is common to feel like an outcast from your inner circle when you first enter treatment and recovery. The causes are varied. Perhaps loved ones also have alcohol or substance use disorders, or all your friends hang out in settings where alcohol is readily available. Maybe you are simply not aware of many sober activities in your area. Many people who are early on their path of recovery have yet to experience any kind of sober experiences before having the experience of becoming sober themselves. It is important to note that there is plenty to be experienced in a sober lifestyle. Though the normalcy around alcohol is rampant, life in recovery can be delightful, healthy, exciting, and fulfilling.

One of the hardest things about getting sober initially is re-establishing all of our relationships with activities we once loved. Perhaps you had a weekly routine of going to the pub with your friends, or watching football games and drinking beer with your family or going out for a drink after work. Our lives are not only changing because we have stopped consuming substances our bodies and minds have relied on, our whole routine and past-times that once gave us pleasure have to be completely revamped. It can be a scary and lonely time, but you are not alone.

It is a well-known fact that physical activity is good for your body and your mind. In most holistic-based therapeutic approaches, such as Ayurveda or Chinese Medicine, movement practices are encouraged daily to nourish the whole being. Science has proven what traditional health practices have always acknowledged; the connection between the mind and body is undeniably strong. On the surface level, how we feel in our bodies will undoubtedly affect how we think in our minds. The patterns that we hold in our bodies are inherently connected to the mental structures that govern our everyday perception of life.

Recovery, healing, and re-discovering our happiest and healthiest selves is a very intimate and personal process. The idea that specific programs are effective for the majority of people going through similar experiences is not only untrue; it can be very dangerous. Every person has individual needs and desires for their mental health and recovery, and there is no such thing as a less valid pathway.

The holiday season can be a joyful and loving, but also a confusing and sometimes challenging, time of year. For anyone newly in recovery, the season can feel particularly demanding. Navigating everyday life can feel difficult, let alone the holidays.  This time of year invites overindulgence as pleasure, which is quite the opposite of what sobriety looks like. We may also face complicated dynamics within our family that trigger us or people close to us that don’t respect our boundaries and needs within recovery. The good news is that sobriety is always possible, no matter the circumstance, and there are a few tips to follow that may help during the sometimes turbulent season of joy.

Humans are social creatures and we habitually seek out love and approval from others. While feeling loved by others is important, nothing is as important as the love you feel for yourself. Self-love may seem obvious to some. For others, it is a foreign concept. Those of us who suffer from mental health disorders, usually fall into the second group despite the fact that self-acceptance and love are key to our recovery. We can express love to our family, friends, even strangers with ease but showing that same love for ourselves can seem nearly impossible. Cultivating self-love is a process, but we can start that process by changing the way we speak to and about ourselves. Try repeating these three affirmations to help accept and appreciate yourself.