How to Deal with Addiction During COVID-19 Quarantine
Recovering addicts are among the at-risk population during the pandemic. They are the ones who exert extensive efforts to resist relapse, manage general anxiety, and protect themselves against COVID. In this article, let us discuss the risks for patients recovering from addiction and how they can resist the temptation of relapse.
How addiction puts you at risk
Substance abuse is linked to numerous medical conditions affecting the lungs. With COVID-19 targets the same organ, the compromised health of recovering addicts makes them more vulnerable to the virus.
- Methamphetamine affects the lungs by shrinking the blood vessels that can lead to pulmonary damage. On the other hand, smoking cigarettes or vaping harms the lungs by weakening the response of lung cells against infection due to e-cigarette aerosols.
- Opioids trigger the brain to slow your breathing that can lead to a decrease of oxygen in your blood and brain damage if left untreated. With compromised lung health, recovering addicts of opioids have an increased risk of chronic respiratory disease that qualifies them to be susceptible to COVID.
Substances abused through inhalation like methamphetamine, nicotine, opioid, and marijuana compromises the target organ of COVID-19 – the lungs. That’s why aside from the health risks involved with recovering addicts, the pandemic has also intensified the triggers for alcohol, drug, and smoking addiction relapse.
COVID-19 crisis is triggering a relapse
Recovering addicts are in a constant battle against the urge to turn to substances. With the stay-at-home safety protocols, isolation and boredom only make it worse for the sober. Boredom strengthens their desire to relapse, and isolation decreases the social support that recovering addicts need to fight their addiction fantasies.
The importance of group support
Support from sobriety groups has become more crucial than ever during the pandemic. Recovering addicts can get their emotional and psychological needs from the support of people who understand them the most, like a fellow sober group member.
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have available Zoom meetings for those recovering addicts who need support during this difficult time. They believe that the real-time voice of someone who listens provides a more emotional impact for recovering addicts than a simple chat.
Tips to avoid addiction relapse
Relapse may seem to be the easiest solution when nothing good happens around you. However, it’s the opposite. Avoiding relapse is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family during this pandemic. Here are some tips to help you keep choosing the healthy path of being sober:
- Keep yourself busy: It doesn’t matter if singing at the top of your lungs is your game as long as your mind is always preoccupied, you will not have time to think about substances.
- Prioritize self-care: Meditations and relaxation practices are a must during this pandemic, just like your mask.
- Spend time with your sobriety group in Zoom: When things get hard, reach out for emotional support from your sponsor and fellow sober friends to relieve anxiety.
Choosing to be sober is the best decision you’ll ever give to yourself and your family. This pandemic can be grueling but it will pass. If the going gets way too tough for you, let our medical professionals help you.
Hadi Medical Group provides addiction medication, addiction prevention therapy, and recovery programs in Plainview and Long Beach. You don’t have to go through addiction alone, let our team support you by calling us now. There’s a better future for you out there, you just have to believe in it.
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