Supporting Each Other In Recovery During a Pandemic

Much has changed in the United States since we last posted an article, owing to the surge of new COVID-19 cases and deaths across the country. At the time, in-person 12 Step meetings were still being held in many places, but some had already started transitioning to video conferencing platforms. Now, the addiction recovery community is conducting things quite differently, mostly meeting online and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

It's no longer safe to go places unless it's essential. Millions have filed for unemployment, and the government is working diligently to provide financial relief. Perhaps you were one of a large number of Americans who have been laid off or asked not to come into work until this crisis blows over. If so, then we are sorry for what you are going through and hope that you are coping in healthy ways. 

The public health crisis that we're all facing is escalating with each passing day. New COVID-19 cases are increasing exponentially, as is the death toll. Millions of people have lost someone that they care about, and experts warn that the trend will continue.

It's essential for each member of the Fellowship to put as much energy as they can into their recovery, while also protecting their health and safety.

If you have been following the data and news reports, then you know that America has surpassed every country in new cases. While the number of deaths is still less than countries like Italy, projections for the U.S. are not good, and we will likely see more coronavirus deaths than any other nation.

Supporting Each Other in Recovery Amid a Pandemic

There are currently 586,140 confirmed coronavirus cases around the globe, according to The Washington Post. Some 26,865 people have died from health complications caused by COVID-19 globally.

Here at home, 97,226 have tested positive for this life-threatening virus, and 1,478 died. At HAUS Recovery, we are keeping every family impacted by COVID-19 in our thoughts and prayers.

Each American has had to make significant sacrifices as a result of the pandemic. The addiction recovery community and people with other forms of mental illness have been impacted in many ways. Moreover, the risk of thousands of relapses is exceptionally high in light of the guidelines to prevent contraction.

Men and women recover together; they work in harmony to achieve the goal of lasting progress. While attending meetings from one's home via the internet is extremely helpful and has proven effective, not everyone has internet access. Some people's reality is hugely problematic when it comes to maintaining a program.

Self-quarantining is a form of isolation, which is a behavior that's never beneficial for men and women in recovery. Social distancing is antithetical to addiction recovery, but we must, in order to safeguard our well-being.

Now, perhaps more than ever, the Fellowship needs to be vigilant about looking out for one another. Calling each other regularly and helping those without internet capabilities acquire such services need to be a priority. This pandemic is likely the most challenging test for any one person's recovery. However, we can persevere if we work together and help our peers cope with stress and anxiety.

A Message from NIDA

You may have read that people with pre-existing respiratory and pulmonary conditions face significant risks of contraction. COVID-19 attacks the lungs. Unfortunately, many people living with addiction have lung disorders due to smoking and heavy drug use.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse published a statement warning that many people touched by addiction are highly susceptible to contracting the coronavirus, and their bodies may be unable to fight the virus if the breathing is already compromised.

If you are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, or another form of respiratory disease, then please be careful when leaving your home. What's more, tobacco users, vapers, and cannabis smokers are not the only people at risk. NIDA points out:

"People with opioid use disorder (OUD) and methamphetamine use disorder may also be vulnerable due to those drugs' effects on respiratory and pulmonary health." 

It's not easy to acquire hand sanitizers, masks, and other types of protective gear, which further puts men and women at risk. Hopefully, such goods will be more readily available in the near future. For more info on how you can avoid contraction, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization for guidance.

Southern California Sober Living

If you require assistance for drug and alcohol addiction, please contact HAUS Recovery Center to learn more about our programs and services. We want to inform you that we are following all state and federal guidelines to safeguard the well-being of our residents.

AA is Effective and Safeguarding Your Recovery Despite COVID-19

HAUS Recovery clients attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous on a regular basis. 12 Step groups help men and women sustain their addiction recovery. Working with others keeps clients on track to achieving long-term recovery.

Perhaps you heard the news about a new systematic review that found Alcoholics Anonymous the most effective method for abstinence for people struggling with alcohol use disorder. The findings were published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review.

"These results demonstrate A.A.'s effectiveness in helping people not only initiate but sustain abstinence and remission over the long term," said the review's lead author, John F. Kelly, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The researchers found that A.A. and treatments that facilitate TSF involvement (Twelve‐Step Facilitation interventions) usually produced higher rates of continuous abstinence than the other established therapies for addiction.

Now that there is some evidence of the efficacy of 12 Step programs, people attending meetings will likely want to continue doing so. However, there is a new problem that the recovery community must address: The Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have attended 12 Step meetings, then you know that there is a lot of person to person interaction. People who go to meetings shake hands, hug, and sit close to one another. Since public health agencies recommend avoiding such behaviors, including gathering in large groups, the Coronavirus is more than problematic for those in recovery.

Guidance for the 12 Step Community

It's vital that you take every precaution to avoid coming into contact with COVID-19. Disease transmission is escalating every day in the United States. Hopefully, you will take the time to follow the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19. Visit CDC.gov for more information.

As it stands today, meetings are still being held across the country. However, the General Service Office (G.S.O.) of Alcoholics Anonymous has published a statement regarding COVID-19. They write about what many groups country wide are doing to safeguard the health of their members. 

Naturally, thousands of people in recovery have reached out to the G.S.O. regarding COVID-19 concerns. The resource center for A.A. members and groups states that each group has the right to hold meetings as they please, but each member is responsible for their own health decisions, regardless of their homegroup's decisions. The G.S.O. writes:

"Some groups have discussed making changes to customs at their meetings. Some examples have included: avoiding shaking hands and handholding; making sure meeting hospitality tables are sanitary; or suspending food hospitality for the time being...Some groups have considered contingency plans in case the group is temporarily unable to meet in person. Plans have included: creating contact lists and keeping in touch by phone, email or social media; meeting by phone or online. Providing members information for the A.A. Online Intergroup (www.aa-intergroup.org) may serve as an additional helpful resource. If a group isn't holding its regular meetings, they may want to communicate this to local A.A. resources, such as the district, area and intergroup or central office."

At HAUS Recovery, we hope that you take steps to protect your sobriety even if you decide not to attend meetings for the time being. Make sure that you stay in constant contact with your support network and sponsor to safeguard your progress. Moreover, your health and safety are of the utmost importance. Please take every measure possible to prevent coming into contact with the virus.

Structured Sober Living in Southern California

HAUS Recovery will also be following the CDC guidelines on the COVID-19 virus to ensure our clients are protected. If you are in need of assistance for alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder, we invite you to contact HAUS to learn more about our programs and services. We want to welcome you to the HAUS, where you'll feel safe, grounded, and accepted.

Sponsors Walk You Through the 12 Steps

If you have been in recovery for even a brief moment, then you may have heard the saying: "Stay in the middle of the herd, so you don't get picked off." This means attending 12-step meetings regularly will help you protect against relapse.

In sober living or transitional living homes like HAUS Recovery, our clients are instructed to attend 12 Step meetings on a regular basis. Each client also attends house meetings and weekly beach meetings (one of the benefits of being situated on the California coast).

The goal is simple. One must firmly establish him or herself in a recovery community following residential or outpatient treatment. We have written about the benefits of 90 meetings in 90 days in the past; hopefully, you read the post, especially if you are in early recovery.

“Meeting-makers make it” as the saying goes. If you attend mutual-help groups for addiction recovery, then you are acutely aware that healing depends on more than just meetings. You know that working the steps is instrumental to your ability to stay the course, and you cannot work the 12 Steps alone.

A sponsor is a man or woman who has worked all 12 Steps and is able to walk others through them as well. Such people usually have more than a year of sobriety, although 365 days sober is not a mandate. Each case is different. Either way, it's vital to make a connection with another individual in the program and allow them to walk you through the process.

One day, you will pay what you learn from your sponsor forward and become part of a decades-old chain of recovery. You cannot keep what you have unless you give it away.

Choosing the Right Sponsor in Recovery

Sponsors come in all shapes and sizes, and from a myriad of backgrounds. No two sponsors guide newcomers in the same way. Once you are out of treatment and hopefully residing in a structured sober living home, it's time to seek out an individual who can help you with step work.

It's alright to be discerning about who you choose to serve as your guide. After attending several meetings, you will have heard several people share. At least one individual's words likely resonated with you. Approach said member of the group and ask them if they are taking on new sponsees after the meeting comes to a close.

If they agree to take you on, then you are on your way to unlocking the secret to achieving long-term recovery. It's also possible that the person you ask to sponsor you already has too many people under their guidance; a sponsor needs to be able to provide each sponsee with the attention required. Taking on too many sponsees is a disservice to each individual. If that is the case, then please do not dismay or become discouraged. There is always another in the program that you can relate with, so ask them for guidance.

While there aren't strict guidelines for choosing a sponsor, there are few suggestions worth heeding. Search for an individual of the same sex; members of the opposite sex can be a distraction for people in early recovery. A sponsor's age, in relation to you, is not as important, but you may find it easier to talk to someone older, or maybe you will find it more comfortable working the steps with a contemporary.

Always look for the similarities and not the differences when choosing a sponsor. Some newcomers benefit from picking a sponsor who is nothing like themselves. Again, you have to decide what works best for you. What's more, choose one who you think can hold you accountable.

Attending meetings and working with a sponsor is the best way to stay in the middle and keep recovery a priority. In time, your sponsor will become more than just a guide; he or she will likely turn into both friend and trusted ally. Please also keep in mind that you are helping your sponsor stay sober by working the steps with them—nobody can keep what they have unless they give it away.

Southern California Structured Sober Living

Those who choose HAUS Recovery will receive guidance on sponsorship and how to work the steps effectively. Sober living is a protective coating for men and women in early recovery. If you or a loved one is about to be discharged from treatment, then we invite you to reach out to HAUS to learn more about our program.

We can significantly help you maintain your abstinence while you reside in the company of active, inspired, and grateful people. Our caring, supportive team is committed to aiding you in reaching your full potential.

Coping with Cravings in Recovery

Cravings are part of early recovery; learning to cope with them in healthy ways is instrumental. If you are in your first year of sobriety, then you are fully aware of what it feels like to crave drugs and alcohol. The temptation to use is a common occurrence that is challenging to escape at times. However, there are many things you can do to lessen their frequency and manage them when they arise. 

Many of our readers have undergone detox and treatment, but are still on shaky ground. Some of you have gone into sober living for extra support to strengthen your program. Perhaps you are residing in a transitional living home now? If so, then you made a sound choice and one that could make all the difference.

Relapse is most common in the first year of recovery. The mind and body are still healing, and working a program is still relatively foreign to you. In treatment, you experienced cravings, but you were in a safe environment amongst supportive counselors and peers. Now that you are out of treatment, you have to put what you learned in practice.

Undoubtedly, you learned some tools for avoiding triggers and coping with cravings while in treatment. You know that they can pop up out of nowhere seemingly, but they tend to dissipate relatively quickly. Still, it's essential to take action to protect your program when unwanted urges come up.

Dealing with Cravings in Recovery

There are several healthy things you can do when you experience a desire to drink or drug. First, call someone in your support network or speak to peer in your sober living. Second, get yourself to a meeting as soon as possible; it will place you in a safe space and give you a forum to share how you are feeling.

Naturally, you may not always be able to get to a meeting for support, and if you do not live in a sober living home, then you may not have a close ally nearby. It's uncommon, but let's imagine that you can't reach anyone over the phone (remember there are 24-hour support lines for people in recovery). Fortunately, there are several methods of abating your cravings on your own such as meditation.

Meditation is a simple technique for clearing your mind and grounding yourself. There isn't one way to meditate, so find what works for you; there are many resources online that can help guide you in the practice. Anything you can do to ground yourself, such as breathing exercises, will counter a craving.

The critical thing to remember when dealing with cravings is that they are temporary. With that in mind, it's best to prioritize distracting yourself when facing the urge to use. Reading your Big Book or any piece of literature can help take your mind off of drugs and alcohol. Turn on the television or, better yet, take a walk. Nature has a cleansing effect on one's psyche.

As long as your choice of distraction is healthy, you are heading in the right direction. Lastly, one of the most effective ways to combat a craving is by playing the tape forward. Think about what will happen if you act on the urge to use, and you will quickly realize that it's hardly worth jeopardizing all your hard work.

Structured Sober Living in Southern California

HAUS Recovery is a co-ed sober living facility located in beautiful Santa Monica, California. Our team of dedicated counselors and addiction specialists can help you or a loved one maintain a program of recovery and acquire the skills needed to make positive changes last.

We are committed to making our clients feel safe, grounded, and accepted. Please contact us today to learn more about our structured sober living.

Sober Living Following Addiction Treatment

The road to lasting recovery often begins at an addiction treatment center. Those who opt for the treatment route will benefit in several ways, from safely detoxing to learning tools for maintaining long-term recovery. Moreover, such individuals also find it advantageous to spend time in a safe, supportive environment away from influences that could jeopardize their ability to heal.

The importance of the last feature of addiction treatment mentioned above cannot be discounted. Maintaining a program of addiction recovery is exceptionally challenging even under the best of circumstances (i.e., family support and financial resources).

Attempting to adopt a program of abstinence in one's usual environs is next to impossible for many individuals, which is why people seek treatment given the option. Being able to be free of people, places, and things that might compromise the goal of recovery is especially beneficial. A 30, 60, or 90-day program gives people the time needed to establish new routines away from the common pitfalls of early recovery.

Still, addiction treatment is a finite experience; one cannot stay away from the outside world interminably. Each person needs to return to the world at large eventually. Hopefully, one will have a set of recovery tools and coping mechanisms in place to prevent relapse upon discharge. However, the prospect of returning home following treatment is often problematic, even with the above skills at one's disposal.

With that in mind, treatment centers almost always recommend sober living to clients who are about to be discharged. There is a myriad of advantages to opting for a structured, sober living home following a stay in residential treatment.

Maintain Your Recovery Following Treatment

If you or a loved one is about to exit an inpatient treatment program, then we strongly advise that you consider sober living. Returning home right after rehab places individuals back into harm's way when one's recovery is still fragile. The stresses of everyday life can prove to be daunting in early recovery; anything you can do to safeguard your sobriety should be done.

While it is possible to succeed by immediately starting to attend 12-step meetings, getting a sponsor, and working the steps, many people find it challenging to steer clear of things that can derail their program. Old ways of thinking may come back, along with selfish and self-centered behaviors. 

Choosing sober living will shield people from that which might compromise their program. Transitional living homes also provide men and women with an extra level of accountability in the nascent stage of recovery. If you choose this route, then you will find yourself living amongst other men and women who share your goals. You will form bonds and lasting friendships with others in the recovery community.

Long-term sobriety is achieved together with others, not alone. Your peers will prove to be vital lifelines that you can turn to when extra support is required. As you tackle new experiences with a clear and sober mind, you will find that sober living helps you continue working toward the goals you set for yourself while in treatment.

To that end, HAUS Recovery's certified counselors coordinate with the addiction professionals you worked with while in treatment. With our support and structured schedule, your self-esteem will strengthen, and you will be able to be more independent in recovery at a safe and gradual pace.

Structured Sober Living in Santa Monica

Please reach out to HAUS Recovery to learn more about our programs and the benefits of choosing sober living. Members of our team are available at any time to field the questions or concerns that you may have. We look forward to helping you embark on a journey to wellness and wholeness and showing you that a life of recovery can be both healing and fun.

Why Spending Time in Nature Helps the Addiction Recovery Process

Each person’s recovery is unique. The tools they’ll need to stay substance-free will depend on their specific needs. However, a few commonly used tools are helpful for most people in their journey of recovery. These include physical exercise, group meetings, a healthy diet and spending time outdoors. 

It’s easy to overlook the importance of being in nature. Most of us become so busy with our daily lives that we forget to carve out time to maintain our physical and emotional health. People struggling with substance use disorder don’t have that luxury. Tending to their wellbeing is one of the most important things in their lives. 

Let’s look at why spending time outdoors is essential for the addiction recovery process.

Benefits of Spend Time Outdoors

People who don’t spend time outside report higher levels of stress and a greater number of health problems. That is true across all social spectrums. Regardless of where a person lives or how much money they make, being outdoors is helpful for everyone. 

Studies have found that spending time in green spaces reduces the risk of…

• Type II diabetes, 
• Cardiovascular disease, 
• Premature death, 
• Diastolic blood pressure, 
• Heart rate,
• Stress, and 
• Levels of salivary cortisol -- a physiological marker of stress.

Spending time in nature increases sleep duration and results in higher reported levels of happiness. There are also byproducts of spending time outside that offer other perks. For example, people who spend time outside also tend to be more active, whether by walking, jogging or hiking. 

Impact of Being in Nature in Addiction Recovery

All the benefits listed above also help people in recovery. Spending time outside also aids addiction recovery by improving self-efficacy, the belief in one’s self to maintain behaviors necessary to achieve their goals. Being outdoors boosts a person’s mood. It is both invigorating and peaceful. 

So many of the tools people use to sustain their recovery are cultivated by being in nature. Reducing stress, boosting your mood and engaging in exercise are critical for a sustainable recovery. Making space in your routine to spend time in nature will provide exponential benefits for your mental, physical and spiritual health 

How to Make Nature Time Part of Your Routine

Though you don’t need to devote several hours a day outside to start reaping nature’s benefits, you should make it a priority to factor it into your weekly plan. A week-long vacation in which you spend a lot of time in nature isn’t enough to have a consistent impact on your health. However, spending just two hours a week in nature will reap physical and mental benefits. 

You can start by incorporating walks outside a couple times a week. It’s not necessary to go into the wilderness to be in nature. Instead, be mindful of finding green spaces - any place where there are plenty of trees, grass and sunlight. Beaches are another great location to spend time outside. Your own neighborhood or backyard might be the perfect place to start. You can also search for hiking trails in your area. 

As is the case with adding any new activities in your routine, convenience is key. Find an easy way to get outdoors and go for a walk. Once you make it a habit, you can then start finding more ways to venture outside for longer periods. 

At HAUS, Spending Time Outdoors Is Part of Our Approach

At HAUS, we know the importance of spending time in nature. It’s part of our approach to treating our clients’ physical, mental and spiritual needs. We offer a lush lawn, flowering shrubs and a lovingly tended vegetable garden. We also encourage our clients to make time in nature part of their normal routines. 

If you’d like to learn more about our addiction recovery services and programs, please contact our staff today. Call 888-551-4715 to speak with an admissions counselor and learn more about our beautiful California facility.