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Having the initiative to attend rehab takes a lot of strength and self-awareness, but it's staying sober on your own that will truly improve your quality of life. Luckily, there are resources that can help. Checking in frequently with sober coaches, learning the benefits of moving away, self-care, and celebrating every step of the way, are all ways to assist you on your sobriety path. Check out these tips to help you embrace your fresh start and stick to your sobriety. Check-ins Recovery is a lifelong journey, so when times feel unbearable, it’s important to use all of your available resources around you for help. A sober coach is the first point of contact you should lean on after rehab. Sober coaches are there to guide you through the hard times and provide you with advice along the way. Rebuilding relationships with family members should be a top priority as well, especially if the bond was broken in the past. Having a friendly face to rely on and build you up can make all the difference in your sobriety journey. If you’d feel more comfortable having assistance 24/7, try downloading a sobriety app to help stay on track with your progress. The last thing you want is to feel alone. Start Over To avoid temptations, distancing yourself from anything or anyone that could have a negative impact on your progress will be in your best interest. Old friends still using, local bars, and even your home can all be temptations. Rebuilding your life somewhere new or close to your family does not have to be dreadful. If money is tight, no need to worry. Consider exploring an FHA loan to assist you in the home buying process. FHA loans are perfect if you’ve experienced a poor financial history, such as debt. It's government-backed, so it allows you to purchase a home with looser financial requirements. Nonetheless, moving to a new location allows you to start fresh and help avoid any relapses because you’ll be away from things that remind you of your past. Self-Care Staying on top of your health is crucial after rehab. Eating healthy, finding a new social group, and starting a new hobby are all ways to guide you through the recovery process. Staying active with a daily routine will also help rid any stress you might be feeling. Just getting outside and going for a walk can be a huge improvement to your mental health. Finding a new friend group that lifts you and supports your sobriety is key to taking care of yourself. If the people around you can’t lift themselves up, how will they be able to help you? Picking up a new hobby to take your mind off things such as reading, journaling, painting, or cooking is also a great way to stay focused. Looking forward to something every day will help you feel grateful and motivated to continue on your sobriety path. Celebrate Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate yourself each step of the way. After rehab, everyday life can be challenging. Maintaining your sobriety takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Although big milestones worth celebrating are 30-day, 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year, every day of sobriety is a huge accomplishment. However, one day might be easier than the next, so it’s important to keep your head up during the highs and lows. To help you celebrate your wins, find fun ways to keep yourself motivated such as nice dinners out, dessert, or perhaps starting a new tradition. A tradition could be similar to celebrating a holiday, you could invite friends and family over for a dinner party or book a trip. No matter how you celebrate, always remember you’re not alone and to keep staying motivated — you got this!
Having the initiative to attend rehab takes a lot of strength and self-awareness, but it's staying sober on your own that will truly improve your quality of life. Luckily, there are resources that can help. Checking in frequently with sober coaches, learning the benefits of moving away, self-care, and celebrating every step of the way, are all ways to assist you on your sobriety path. Check out these tips to help you embrace your fresh start and stick to your sobriety. Check-ins Recovery is a lifelong journey, so when times feel unbearable, it’s important to use all of your available resources around you for help. A sober coach is the first point of contact you should lean on after rehab. Sober coaches are there to guide you through the hard times and provide you with advice along the way. Rebuilding relationships with family members should be a top priority as well, especially if the bond was broken in the past. Having a friendly face to rely on and build you up can make all the difference in your sobriety journey. If you’d feel more comfortable having assistance 24/7, try downloading a sobriety app to help stay on track with your progress. The last thing you want is to feel alone. Start Over To avoid temptations, distancing yourself from anything or anyone that could have a negative impact on your progress will be in your best interest. Old friends still using, local bars, and even your home can all be temptations. Rebuilding your life somewhere new or close to your family does not have to be dreadful. If money is tight, no need to worry. Consider exploring an FHA loan to assist you in the home buying process. FHA loans are perfect if you’ve experienced a poor financial history, such as debt. It's government-backed, so it allows you to purchase a home with looser financial requirements. Nonetheless, moving to a new location allows you to start fresh and help avoid any relapses because you’ll be away from things that remind you of your past. Self-Care Staying on top of your health is crucial after rehab. Eating healthy, finding a new social group, and starting a new hobby are all ways to guide you through the recovery process. Staying active with a daily routine will also help rid any stress you might be feeling. Just getting outside and going for a walk can be a huge improvement to your mental health. Finding a new friend group that lifts you and supports your sobriety is key to taking care of yourself. If the people around you can’t lift themselves up, how will they be able to help you? Picking up a new hobby to take your mind off things such as reading, journaling, painting, or cooking is also a great way to stay focused. Looking forward to something every day will help you feel grateful and motivated to continue on your sobriety path. Celebrate Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate yourself each step of the way. After rehab, everyday life can be challenging. Maintaining your sobriety takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Although big milestones worth celebrating are 30-day, 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year, every day of sobriety is a huge accomplishment. However, one day might be easier than the next, so it’s important to keep your head up during the highs and lows. To help you celebrate your wins, find fun ways to keep yourself motivated such as nice dinners out, dessert, or perhaps starting a new tradition. A tradition could be similar to celebrating a holiday, you could invite friends and family over for a dinner party or book a trip. No matter how you celebrate, always remember you’re not alone and to keep staying motivated — you got this!
Medication warnings don’t tell you this When my father died of alcoholic liver disease in 2016, I wanted to understand how this condition happened. As a former nurse, I should have known that he was sick, but the truth is we didn’t. Liver disease can be sneaky, and liver failure, especially from alcoholism, can happen quicker than you think. However, I know my father’s medications also contributed to his rapidly failing liver because he mixed alcohol with liver-toxic medications. In the hospital, the doctors told us that doing so caused his liver disease to accelerate. Indeed, according to research, mixing hepatotoxic medications with alcohol is highly dangerous for the liver. However, not all medications are toxic to the liver, but most people don’t realize which ones are toxic and which ones are not. Hepatotoxic drugs are metabolized in the liver and can put a lot of stress on the functions of the liver. Alcohol is also hepatotoxic, which adds even more pressure on the liver. Medication safety warnings usually point to avoidance of alcohol when taking that specific medication but don’t explain why. Some medicines can make you more dizzy or drowsy when mixed with alcohol, but some warnings are due to the hepatotoxic nature of the medicine. But since these warnings don’t provide details, it’s hard for people to know why the warnings are there. In writing these educational posts, my goal is to help people understand the information that is not often explained well to the general public. If people have the appropriate education, they can make better choices about their alcohol and medication use. The following common medications are hepatotoxic, which means they put stress on the liver and shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. Acetaminophen Acetaminophen is metabolized through the liver and can be hard on liver functions. An overdose of acetaminophen, however, can cause liver failure. Taking some Tylenol with alcohol is likely not going to cause liver failure. However, if Tylenol is mixed repeatedly with alcohol over a long period of time, it can contribute to worsening liver issues. Narcotics Similar to Tylenol, narcotics are toxic for the liver. Repeated use of narcotics can be hard on the liver, but it becomes a double-whammy when mixed with alcohol. For people who already have liver disease, mixing narcotics and alcohol can rapidly accelerate liver problems. This is what happened to my father — he had chronic pain from diabetes, and he used narcotic medication while drinking a lot of alcohol. Unfortunately, this combo was deadly for him. Antibiotics and Antifungals These are common medications that are used for bacterial and fungal infections. These medications can be very hard on the liver and digestive tract. Using alcohol with these medications can make a person quite sick, particularly for antifungal medications. Fortunately, these medications are only used periodically and not long-term. However, people with alcohol abuse issues are sometimes prone to repeated infections because their immune system has been lowered by heavy alcohol use. This means that antibiotics or antifungals may be used more frequently in this population. Anticonvulsants Anticonvulsants are used to treat seizures and epilepsy. However, the medications taken to treat these conditions are hard on the liver. Medications like Valproic acid (anticonvulsant but also used for bipolar disorder and migraines) can sometimes raise liver enzymes even when taken alone. However, when used with alcohol, it can put a lot of stress on the liver and increase the potential for liver damage. Antipsychotics Some antipsychotic medications can be difficult for the liver. Medications like chlorpromazine are metabolized through the liver and should not be mixed with alcohol. Other medications include quetiapine, seroquel, and clozapine, to name a few. Unfortunately, many people with mental illnesses like psychotic disorders also struggle with alcohol use disorder. This makes liver issues a high potential for this group of people. Cholesterol-lowering drugs Medications like atorvastatin and simvastatin can cause problems with the liver and, as such, shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. However, 85.6% of US citizens consume alcohol, and 25.8% binge drink. Also, 94 million US adults have high cholesterol and may require the use of medications to lower cholesterol levels. Diabetes medicine Insulin and metformin are both used for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both these medications can be hard on the liver and therefore shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. Interestingly, over 34.2 million people have diabetes in the US making it a relatively common condition. As such, many people with diabetes are taking medication to control their blood sugars and possibly mixing these medications with alcohol. Again, this is also what happened to my father. He had type 2 diabetes and also took medication to control his blood sugars. Unfortunately, he mixed several medications with alcohol which caused his liver disease to rapidly worsen. These are the most commonly used medications that people may mix with alcohol. All of these medications can be toxic to the liver on their own, and when combined with alcohol, can accelerate liver disease. People who take these medications should exercise caution when drinking alcohol. Become a member and subscribe to Medium to read all you want each month, including my articles! You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook Former nurse turned writer — empowering change. Let’s talk about mental health, addictions, trauma, and wellness. Join Medium: https://gillianmay.ca/membership
Medication warnings don’t tell you this When my father died of alcoholic liver disease in 2016, I wanted to understand how this condition happened. As a former nurse, I should have known that he was sick, but the truth is we didn’t. Liver disease can be sneaky, and liver failure, especially from alcoholism, can happen quicker than you think. However, I know my father’s medications also contributed to his rapidly failing liver because he mixed alcohol with liver-toxic medications. In the hospital, the doctors told us that doing so caused his liver disease to accelerate. Indeed, according to research, mixing hepatotoxic medications with alcohol is highly dangerous for the liver. However, not all medications are toxic to the liver, but most people don’t realize which ones are toxic and which ones are not. Hepatotoxic drugs are metabolized in the liver and can put a lot of stress on the functions of the liver. Alcohol is also hepatotoxic, which adds even more pressure on the liver. Medication safety warnings usually point to avoidance of alcohol when taking that specific medication but don’t explain why. Some medicines can make you more dizzy or drowsy when mixed with alcohol, but some warnings are due to the hepatotoxic nature of the medicine. But since these warnings don’t provide details, it’s hard for people to know why the warnings are there. In writing these educational posts, my goal is to help people understand the information that is not often explained well to the general public. If people have the appropriate education, they can make better choices about their alcohol and medication use. The following common medications are hepatotoxic, which means they put stress on the liver and shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. Acetaminophen Acetaminophen is metabolized through the liver and can be hard on liver functions. An overdose of acetaminophen, however, can cause liver failure. Taking some Tylenol with alcohol is likely not going to cause liver failure. However, if Tylenol is mixed repeatedly with alcohol over a long period of time, it can contribute to worsening liver issues. Narcotics Similar to Tylenol, narcotics are toxic for the liver. Repeated use of narcotics can be hard on the liver, but it becomes a double-whammy when mixed with alcohol. For people who already have liver disease, mixing narcotics and alcohol can rapidly accelerate liver problems. This is what happened to my father — he had chronic pain from diabetes, and he used narcotic medication while drinking a lot of alcohol. Unfortunately, this combo was deadly for him. Antibiotics and Antifungals These are common medications that are used for bacterial and fungal infections. These medications can be very hard on the liver and digestive tract. Using alcohol with these medications can make a person quite sick, particularly for antifungal medications. Fortunately, these medications are only used periodically and not long-term. However, people with alcohol abuse issues are sometimes prone to repeated infections because their immune system has been lowered by heavy alcohol use. This means that antibiotics or antifungals may be used more frequently in this population. Anticonvulsants Anticonvulsants are used to treat seizures and epilepsy. However, the medications taken to treat these conditions are hard on the liver. Medications like Valproic acid (anticonvulsant but also used for bipolar disorder and migraines) can sometimes raise liver enzymes even when taken alone. However, when used with alcohol, it can put a lot of stress on the liver and increase the potential for liver damage. Antipsychotics Some antipsychotic medications can be difficult for the liver. Medications like chlorpromazine are metabolized through the liver and should not be mixed with alcohol. Other medications include quetiapine, seroquel, and clozapine, to name a few. Unfortunately, many people with mental illnesses like psychotic disorders also struggle with alcohol use disorder. This makes liver issues a high potential for this group of people. Cholesterol-lowering drugs Medications like atorvastatin and simvastatin can cause problems with the liver and, as such, shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. However, 85.6% of US citizens consume alcohol, and 25.8% binge drink. Also, 94 million US adults have high cholesterol and may require the use of medications to lower cholesterol levels. Diabetes medicine Insulin and metformin are both used for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both these medications can be hard on the liver and therefore shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. Interestingly, over 34.2 million people have diabetes in the US making it a relatively common condition. As such, many people with diabetes are taking medication to control their blood sugars and possibly mixing these medications with alcohol. Again, this is also what happened to my father. He had type 2 diabetes and also took medication to control his blood sugars. Unfortunately, he mixed several medications with alcohol which caused his liver disease to rapidly worsen. These are the most commonly used medications that people may mix with alcohol. All of these medications can be toxic to the liver on their own, and when combined with alcohol, can accelerate liver disease. People who take these medications should exercise caution when drinking alcohol. Become a member and subscribe to Medium to read all you want each month, including my articles! You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook Former nurse turned writer — empowering change. Let’s talk about mental health, addictions, trauma, and wellness. Join Medium: https://gillianmay.ca/membership
Sobercoin is introducing crypto currency into the world of sobriety. With the advancement in technology that Sober Network has been bringing to the table for over 20 years, they continue to stay ahead in the game by releasing Sobercoin to offer incentive to continue with sobriety. Much like a drug stimulates the brain, Sober Network is doing the same by rewarding those who are willing to move forward with their sobriety and maintain accountability. By having users interact with the Sobersystems mobile app, writing in the SoberVerse community forums, and signing up for the sober community on Sober.com; visitors are given the ability to earn rewards and have fun while doing it! To initially request Sobercoin, please visit: https://sobercoin.com/sobercoin-sign-up/. To earn your first 2 Sobercoin, you will need to create a member profile on https://soberverse.com/community. After signing up you will need to write a minimum of 10 forum posts in the Community Forums only found at: https://soberverse.com/community/forums to earn an additional 2 SOBR. The 3rd way to earn is by checking in on our Sobersystems App for 30 days which is available Apple and Android. The 30 days of maintaining accountability will give you 10 Sobercoin. By stimulating those with rewards and self-motivation, Sobercoin offers people a chance to have fun while participating in their recovery. The addiction recovery world and crypto world have been immersed together in this project which is designed specifically to help people get sober, and stay sober. Learn more about what there is to offer at www.SoberNetwork.com.
Sobercoin is introducing crypto currency into the world of sobriety. With the advancement in technology that Sober Network has been bringing to the table for over 20 years, they continue to stay ahead in the game by releasing Sobercoin to offer incentive to continue with sobriety. Much like a drug stimulates the brain, Sober Network is doing the same by rewarding those who are willing to move forward with their sobriety and maintain accountability. By having users interact with the Sobersystems mobile app, writing in the SoberVerse community forums, and signing up for the sober community on Sober.com; visitors are given the ability to earn rewards and have fun while doing it! To initially request Sobercoin, please visit: https://sobercoin.com/sobercoin-sign-up/. To earn your first 2 Sobercoin, you will need to create a member profile on https://soberverse.com/community. After signing up you will need to write a minimum of 10 forum posts in the Community Forums only found at: https://soberverse.com/community/forums to earn an additional 2 SOBR. The 3rd way to earn is by checking in on our Sobersystems App for 30 days which is available Apple and Android. The 30 days of maintaining accountability will give you 10 Sobercoin. By stimulating those with rewards and self-motivation, Sobercoin offers people a chance to have fun while participating in their recovery. The addiction recovery world and crypto world have been immersed together in this project which is designed specifically to help people get sober, and stay sober. Learn more about what there is to offer at www.SoberNetwork.com.
Thursday, September 30, 2021 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is launching an Office of Recovery, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to advance the agency’s commitment to, and support of, recovery for all Americans. September marks National Recovery Month, and in organizing this new office, SAMHSA will now have a dedicated team with a deep understanding of recovery to promote policies, programs and services to those in or seeking recovery. “We have identified recovery as a crosscutting principle throughout SAMHSA’s policies and programs,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “In standing up this new office, SAMHSA is committed to growing and expanding recovery support services nationwide.” Recovery is enhanced by peer-delivered services. These peer support services have proven to be effective as the support, outreach and engagement with new networks help sustain recovery over the long term. Peer services are critical, given the significant workforce shortages in behavioral health. SAMHSA’s new Office of Recovery will promote the involvement of people with lived experience throughout agency and stakeholder activities, foster relationships with internal and external organizations in the mental health and addiction recovery fields and identify health disparities in high-risk and vulnerable populations to ensure equity for support services across the Nation. “SAMHSA believes in recovery and recognizes the importance of including families, loved ones and allies,” said Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon. “If people are struggling, they don’t need to struggle alone – services and supports are available across the country, which can help people find long-term recovery.” SAMHSA has a long history of advancing Recovery Support dating back to the 1980s with the Community Support Program and the 1990s, when the first Recovery Community Support Programs were funded. SAMHSA defines recovery as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential. People searching for treatment for mental or substance use disorders can find treatment by visiting https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.
Thursday, September 30, 2021 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is launching an Office of Recovery, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to advance the agency’s commitment to, and support of, recovery for all Americans. September marks National Recovery Month, and in organizing this new office, SAMHSA will now have a dedicated team with a deep understanding of recovery to promote policies, programs and services to those in or seeking recovery. “We have identified recovery as a crosscutting principle throughout SAMHSA’s policies and programs,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “In standing up this new office, SAMHSA is committed to growing and expanding recovery support services nationwide.” Recovery is enhanced by peer-delivered services. These peer support services have proven to be effective as the support, outreach and engagement with new networks help sustain recovery over the long term. Peer services are critical, given the significant workforce shortages in behavioral health. SAMHSA’s new Office of Recovery will promote the involvement of people with lived experience throughout agency and stakeholder activities, foster relationships with internal and external organizations in the mental health and addiction recovery fields and identify health disparities in high-risk and vulnerable populations to ensure equity for support services across the Nation. “SAMHSA believes in recovery and recognizes the importance of including families, loved ones and allies,” said Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon. “If people are struggling, they don’t need to struggle alone – services and supports are available across the country, which can help people find long-term recovery.” SAMHSA has a long history of advancing Recovery Support dating back to the 1980s with the Community Support Program and the 1990s, when the first Recovery Community Support Programs were funded. SAMHSA defines recovery as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential. People searching for treatment for mental or substance use disorders can find treatment by visiting https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Reporters with questions should send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.
Addiction has killed and destroyed the lives of millions of Americans. Drug Abuse Statistics show that over 20 million Americans aged 12 and over have substance abuse disorder. During the pandemic, many healthcare professionals who treated those with addiction issues had to reduce or stop completely physical in-person treatment plans.Enter telehealth. People battling their addictions and those recovering from addiction could connect to their therapists or doctors online. Although it was a learning curve for both patients and medical practitioners, telehealth has shown to be beneficial when used to combat addiction and help support recovery. Here's why telehealth is important your addiction treatment and recovery. It enables you to continue your recovery program During the pandemic, a lot of people who were in facilities or enrolled in programs experienced disruptions to their treatments. Thankfully telemedicine meant they could continue on their recovery journey with less interference. It is vital that individuals undergoing recovery continue their programs to maintain their sobriety. As James Mackay explains in his study on the Impact of Continuing Care on Recovery From Substance Use Disorder, having a constant recovery process can monitor treatment gains or relapses. If you have found that your recovery program is being disrupted, then choosing a telehealth program will help ensure that you always have a point of contact. It provides unique therapeutic strategies Another bonus of using telehealth for addiction and recovery is that it can offer new unique ways of doing therapy. Telehealth network Wheel explains that most therapists treated patients in-person using traditional methods before they transitioned to teletherapy. Through Online Addiction Counseling patients can start to use virtual mental health therapy tools and testing materials that they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. This includes computer-assisted therapy, such as computerized assessments and online homework assignments, or even treatment through mobile apps. It keeps you connected with your therapist or doctor During a time when people need to quarantine, telehealth allows you access to your doctors and therapists. Even though a traditional office setting is what you’re used to, you can still talk to them via your smartphone or your internet-connected devices. Seeing you, even on a screen, will help your therapist keep you healthy and safe. Similarly, they can also discern if you are having a hard time and figure out a treatment plan that will get you back on track. It allows you to remain at home with loved ones Treatment programs can be more effective if you can stay in a place that is comfortable and familiar – like your home. Telehealth allows you to do just that throughout what may be a challenging recovery process. At home, you could also receive the support of loved ones. In our past blog ‘Heavy Drinking and Its Effect on Relationships’, we emphasized that addiction can have drastic effects on relationships and that having a strong support system is incredibly important. By using telehealth, your loved ones can get more involved in your recovery program with much less disruption to their lives. It lets you create your own schedule Some patients do not have a great recovery process due to the schedules enforced in a rehabilitation facility. But with telehealth, you can take control of your own schedule and potentially create your own recovery routine. This will give you a sense of purpose and control over your life that addiction may have stripped away. With the extra time you can pursue newfound hobbies. Although the move to telehealth was in many enforced due to the pandemic, more and more recovering addicts are seeing the benefits of this new form of healthcare. If you have been struggling in the past two years we recommend you give telehealth a try.
Addiction has killed and destroyed the lives of millions of Americans. Drug Abuse Statistics show that over 20 million Americans aged 12 and over have substance abuse disorder. During the pandemic, many healthcare professionals who treated those with addiction issues had to reduce or stop completely physical in-person treatment plans.Enter telehealth. People battling their addictions and those recovering from addiction could connect to their therapists or doctors online. Although it was a learning curve for both patients and medical practitioners, telehealth has shown to be beneficial when used to combat addiction and help support recovery. Here's why telehealth is important your addiction treatment and recovery. It enables you to continue your recovery program During the pandemic, a lot of people who were in facilities or enrolled in programs experienced disruptions to their treatments. Thankfully telemedicine meant they could continue on their recovery journey with less interference. It is vital that individuals undergoing recovery continue their programs to maintain their sobriety. As James Mackay explains in his study on the Impact of Continuing Care on Recovery From Substance Use Disorder, having a constant recovery process can monitor treatment gains or relapses. If you have found that your recovery program is being disrupted, then choosing a telehealth program will help ensure that you always have a point of contact. It provides unique therapeutic strategies Another bonus of using telehealth for addiction and recovery is that it can offer new unique ways of doing therapy. Telehealth network Wheel explains that most therapists treated patients in-person using traditional methods before they transitioned to teletherapy. Through Online Addiction Counseling patients can start to use virtual mental health therapy tools and testing materials that they otherwise wouldn’t have had access to. This includes computer-assisted therapy, such as computerized assessments and online homework assignments, or even treatment through mobile apps. It keeps you connected with your therapist or doctor During a time when people need to quarantine, telehealth allows you access to your doctors and therapists. Even though a traditional office setting is what you’re used to, you can still talk to them via your smartphone or your internet-connected devices. Seeing you, even on a screen, will help your therapist keep you healthy and safe. Similarly, they can also discern if you are having a hard time and figure out a treatment plan that will get you back on track. It allows you to remain at home with loved ones Treatment programs can be more effective if you can stay in a place that is comfortable and familiar – like your home. Telehealth allows you to do just that throughout what may be a challenging recovery process. At home, you could also receive the support of loved ones. In our past blog ‘Heavy Drinking and Its Effect on Relationships’, we emphasized that addiction can have drastic effects on relationships and that having a strong support system is incredibly important. By using telehealth, your loved ones can get more involved in your recovery program with much less disruption to their lives. It lets you create your own schedule Some patients do not have a great recovery process due to the schedules enforced in a rehabilitation facility. But with telehealth, you can take control of your own schedule and potentially create your own recovery routine. This will give you a sense of purpose and control over your life that addiction may have stripped away. With the extra time you can pursue newfound hobbies. Although the move to telehealth was in many enforced due to the pandemic, more and more recovering addicts are seeing the benefits of this new form of healthcare. If you have been struggling in the past two years we recommend you give telehealth a try.
Find Support From Home!!! Social Distancing benefits us all but can be tough on recovery and mental health. Here are some more options to help you stay safe and engaged in your recovery during this time. If you missed our first list, you can find it here. MEETINGS & SUPPORT OPTIONS SMART Recovery -https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php -Site boasts over forty online recovery meetings. In addition, they have recovery forums, an online journal and shop. NYC AA Inter-Group Online Meetings Directory-https://www.nyintergroup.org/remote-meetings/list/ Secular AA Online Meetings-https://secularaa.org/online-meetings/ 12Step.org-https://12step.org/social/online-meeting-calendar/-Online 12 step meetings for a variety of different addictions, regions, groups and topics. Sober Mommies Support Group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/OfficialSoberMommies/-This Facebook group for Sober Mommies, Inc. that provides a support system for mothers that are in recovery or debating it. LGBTteetotalers Face to Face -https://lgbtteetotaler.com/f2f/-Website states, " LGBTteetotalers Face to Face are recurring social/support calls for women, non-binary, and trans folks who are queer or questioning and sober, sober curious, or in any kind of recovery. These are not recovery meetings, they’re a space for us to get together, socialize, and support each other with other people who understand our experiences." LifeRing Secular Recovery-https://www.lifering.org/online-meeting-schedule-This group recognizes that there are many different ways of maintaining sobriety and look to offer support to yours. Buddhist Recovery Network-https://www.buddhistrecovery.org/online-meetings.htm-Online Buddhist Recovery and meditation meetings/resources/gatherings. May be great resource for those looking to get into meditation or further their studies in it. ONLINE RESOURCES Australian AA Online Meetings-https://aa.org.au/meetings/online-aa-meetings/-Has online meetings but also explains the history of AA meetings online, online meeting warnings and how to access online meetings.
Find Support From Home!!! Social Distancing benefits us all but can be tough on recovery and mental health. Here are some more options to help you stay safe and engaged in your recovery during this time. If you missed our first list, you can find it here. MEETINGS & SUPPORT OPTIONS SMART Recovery -https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php -Site boasts over forty online recovery meetings. In addition, they have recovery forums, an online journal and shop. NYC AA Inter-Group Online Meetings Directory-https://www.nyintergroup.org/remote-meetings/list/ Secular AA Online Meetings-https://secularaa.org/online-meetings/ 12Step.org-https://12step.org/social/online-meeting-calendar/-Online 12 step meetings for a variety of different addictions, regions, groups and topics. Sober Mommies Support Group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/OfficialSoberMommies/-This Facebook group for Sober Mommies, Inc. that provides a support system for mothers that are in recovery or debating it. LGBTteetotalers Face to Face -https://lgbtteetotaler.com/f2f/-Website states, " LGBTteetotalers Face to Face are recurring social/support calls for women, non-binary, and trans folks who are queer or questioning and sober, sober curious, or in any kind of recovery. These are not recovery meetings, they’re a space for us to get together, socialize, and support each other with other people who understand our experiences." LifeRing Secular Recovery-https://www.lifering.org/online-meeting-schedule-This group recognizes that there are many different ways of maintaining sobriety and look to offer support to yours. Buddhist Recovery Network-https://www.buddhistrecovery.org/online-meetings.htm-Online Buddhist Recovery and meditation meetings/resources/gatherings. May be great resource for those looking to get into meditation or further their studies in it. ONLINE RESOURCES Australian AA Online Meetings-https://aa.org.au/meetings/online-aa-meetings/-Has online meetings but also explains the history of AA meetings online, online meeting warnings and how to access online meetings.