Navigating addiction recovery with potentially months of social distancing ahead seems daunting. We take a look at what’s working in some recovery communities, what help is available for those struggling, and share five simple ways to maintain your recovery even while social distancing.

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How to Maintain Your Recovery While Social
Distancing

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How to Maintain Your Recovery While Social
Distancing
Navigating addiction recovery with potentially months of social
distancing ahead seems daunting.
Let’s take a look at what’s working in some recovery
communities and what help is available for those struggling.

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Maintaining Recovery While Social Distancing
#1 Phone Meetings/Video Meetings
➢ Call the regional offices for your local 12-step meetings to get
information about area online meetings. For example, Narcotics
Anonymous has a 24-hour hotline at 1-888-253-1934. Ask for regional
office phone numbers to learn about online meetings.
➢ If a video meeting feels too overwhelming, try a phone meeting. You
can find Alcoholics Anonymous phone meeting listings and
Al-Anon meetings. Remember, you don’t have to talk, it’s okay to just
listen.

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Maintaining Recovery While Social Distancing
#2 Go Heavy on the Outreach Calls
➢ With your normal meeting schedule altered, make more outreach
phone calls to avoid isolation.
➢ A good rule of thumb is committing to one phone conversation per day
with another person in recovery. If you can’t get in touch with anyone,
make three attempts and leave three voicemail messages asking for a
call back. An outreach call can last as little as five minutes. Just give
yourself enough time to check in with another recovery person.

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Maintaining Recovery While Social Distancing
#3 Schedule Outreach Meetings
➢ If you’re struggling or just need more human interaction, schedule a 15-
minute call with a friend in recovery.
➢ Start the call with the Serenity Prayer, then allow yourself a timed, five-
minute share. When you finish sharing, allow the other person to give
two minutes of feedback. Then, have the other person share. This is a
simple way to stay connected and keep daily resentments from
growing.

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Maintaining Recovery While Social Distancing
#4 Use the Extra Time at Home to Work Through Steps
➢ Set a timer and write on each step for 30 minutes daily. Many 12-step
writing guides are online. Ask your sponsor or others in recovery for
suggestions on helpful writing guides.

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Maintaining Recovery While Social Distancing
#5 Meet Outside (at a safe distance)
➢ Do you have two or three good friends in recovery living near you? If so,
consider meeting in a backyard or a park each week for a meeting with
folks, making sure to sit at least six feet apart. Keep the format simple.
Take topics from approved program literature and take turns sharing.

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Maintaining Recovery While Social Distancing
Don’t allow yourself to get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Yes, this is a
tall order during a worldwide health crisis. However, the addiction recovery
community still exists.
Recovery may look a little different right now, but it’s available if you make
the effort.
Most importantly, stay safe. Addiction recovery professionals are still ready
and waiting to help anyone struggling.

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Additional Sources:
For more information and tips on managing your recovery in
quarantine and social distancing check out the full article below:
Five Tips for Managing Addiction Recovery, Even in Quarantine

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