Without much warning in March, we were handed the gift of time from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with social distancing orders, we have had to spend more time at home, and less time at work or on the go – whether we like it or not. For some people, that can be a real challenge. It serves as a gateway to bad habits, such as substance abuse. But you are not without power in this. With commitment and creativity, you figure out how to fill your time sober in quarantine. The Right Step Hill Country is here to provide you with ways you can fill your time sober during the quarantine.
Staying sober during the pandemic is crucial. With worry filling the air and stresses at an all-time high, the inclination comes too easily to cope with drugs or alcohol. Facing isolation, it can quickly guide you into a cycle of substance abuse and dependence.
Keeping busy by exercising good personal care is one way to stay ahead of substance abuse. Figure out how to fill your time sober in quarantine and you will emerge from the pandemic with a more stable, happier outlook.
Loneliness and Substance Abuse
The connection between loneliness and substance abuse is well documented. People with substance abuse demonstrated higher rates of loneliness as measured in emotional, social, romantic, and familial terms than those outside the abuse spectrum.
That is why understanding how to fill your time sober in quarantine is important. The first rule to keep sobriety in check is to take better care of yourself. Addiction experts offer good idea such as:
- Turning off the news
- Check-in with your sponsor
- Exercising regularly
- Getting enough rest
- Eating well
- Staying connected through technology (video conference calls)
How to Fill Your Time Sober in Quarantine
Saying that you should stay sober in quarantine and doing it are two different things. Figuring out how to fill your time sober in quarantine is not easy, but it can be done with the right support system in place and a relationship with the help of the addiction treatment staff at Right Step Hill Country.
The first and most important step in maintaining sobriety is making sure to take care of yourself — mentally and physically. Some other good steps to follow include:
- Serving others, perhaps through safe volunteer roles
- Attending addiction support groups. Some of these may have moved online.
- Seeking support through the church. Some groups may also be meeting online.
- Adopting a pet
- Keeping a journal
No one element of these will restore your soul alone, but they can help put you on an even keel, as you continue to look for the right answers to how to fill your time sober in quarantine.
Getting Treated
The past two months have been extremely difficult, and you may have already lost ground in the battle with sobriety. That’s the moment you should call our outpatient rehab center at Right Step Hill Country. Our team is experienced in the latest science around addiction medicine to help get your life back on track. Here is a brief overview of what to expect if you enter treatment:
- An initial assessment, where doctors learn about you and your history with drugs or alcohol
- Development of a comprehensive treatment plan
- Detox to flush the drugs and alcohol out of your system under the supervision of a doctor
- Counseling, either individually or in group sessions
- Aftercare, to guard against relapse
There is no shame in asking for help, especially at a time of deep stress.
Addressing Your Needs
With stresses all around us, the temptation is high to go down the wrong road. It is a good time to review and revisit ideas for how to fill your time sober in quarantine. But remember that you don’t have to do this alone, even at a time of isolation. The counselors and clinicians at Right Step Hill Country are here to assist. We provide a full range of treatment programs, including an inpatient rehab center, intensive outpatient program, and prescription drug addiction treatment programs. Call a counselor today at 1.844.675.1628 for an initial consultation.