For nearly a year now, the world has been coping with the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of these unprecedented times while battling the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The pandemic has not only made millions of people ill, but it’s also had secondary effects on those who have been abiding by stay-at-home orders, essentially suggesting that people do not interact with their friends and family, especially those who are high risk.
This situation has become particularly tough for people in recovery or who are in an opioid treatment program. Much of the healing that goes on during treatment and beyond involves interaction with people, commuting to and from clinics, and spending time with loved ones while rekindling and repairing relationships. Many in an opioid treatment program and recovery have been feeling isolated. The effects of cabin fever are setting in, most harshly, for people who live in cold climates and cannot spend time outdoors.
A 24-hour news cycle has many people on edge. With the constant consumption of news, much of it reporting bad news can severely alter a person’s state of mind. Taking a break from the screens and limiting notifications of breaking news can feel freeing and help those who are struggling to refocus their energy on something more positive and uplifting.
Early on in the pandemic, some people enjoyed relaxing and working on projects at home more than ever before with lockdowns in place. Still, after a year of sitting inside, along with the winter months, those early pandemic goals and hobbies probably feel stale. Creating new plans for the next several months and picking new hobbies or interests to tackle can help revive enthusiasm.
If binge-watching tv shows and movies has become tiresome, there are millions of tutorials and videos online that can teach new skills and hobbies for free! There are also yoga and exercise routines available for every fitness level that can help release pent-up energy. Many people have also taken to virtual recovery chatrooms that are becoming popular where people can communicate while seeing each other’s faces.
While leaving the house for a change of pace is not exactly an option currently, reorganizing a living space can help switch up the pace and feel refreshing. Changing the positioning of furniture or taking on small home projects like changing wall colors or purging and donating old unused clothes and other items is an excellent way to being the upcoming spring months with a new look and feel.
Isolation and cabin fever, along with a worldwide pandemic, can bring about feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and restlessness affecting sleep schedule and mood. These simple but key steps can help those in recovery ease negative emotional states to reduce the risk of relapse as the world continues to stay at home and avoid public spaces and gatherings.
We’ve made the journey to recovery simple and straightforward. We design our plans to let you keep living your life while undergoing our treatment and support services. If you are ready to get started on your individualized treatment plan, contact us today.
