Recovery, Support and Online Meetings in the Age of COVID-19

Many people are worried about how COVID-19 can affect their families and communities. California, like many places in the world right now, is enforcing guidelines that say that groups of people shouldn’t gather at all. Obeying the law in recovery is essential, just as your health and the health of others is important. But staying home from recovery meetings doesn’t mean that you have to go off the grid. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, it’s time to buckle down and take care of your recovery needs. Online meetings are becoming a part of recovery life. There are many ways to do this, and we’ll explore each of them here.

Your recovery is in your hands. So work it, you’re worth it. There are several ways you can continue to get the support you need to stay sober.

Keep Your Support Network Close

Talking to your sponsor, recovery friends, and others is one of the most important things you can continue to do while we all learn to navigate a world in crisis.

Most people can’t go to a meeting in-person right now because of restrictions. Even without an in-person meeting, you have a lot of tools to stay plugged into your network.

Stay in touch with your sponsor every day, and talk to others in recovery. If you’re struggling with tough emotions, you’re not alone. Sharing with others your feelings – and of course, listening to theirs as well will help you stay close to your recovery goals. Online meetings can help fill the gap if you're feeling lonely, afraid or overwhelmed.

You can call, text, or even email your friends and sponsor. If you are doing 12-step work, it’s time to pull it out and focus. Staying centered is so vital, and strengthening your relationships will help you with that.

Online Meetings and Telephone Meetings

When it comes to recovery, people can be very resourceful. Some 12-step members have decided to have small, informal five-person or so online meetings together using video technology. These meetings usually have your peers and sponsor in them and can be quite intimate and cozy. You'll need an internet-connected device such as a laptop or tablet.

AA also has hosted online meetings for years to reach people who suffer from a disability or chronic illness. So there are a lot of online and nontraditional 12-step meeting formats available. Here are several you can check out on your own:

• Online Local Videochat Meetings: In California, in-person meetings have been moved to video chat.
• Online AA Meetings (audio and/or visual): There are also meetings online that are on the national level that have been running for years. Learn more about scheduled online AA meetings you can join here.
• Email and Forum-Based AA Meetings: These alternative formats are also happening across the globe, and have been used by people who are homebound or have disabilities for years. Learn more about being a part of this here.
• Conference Call Meetings: These meetings are mostly on the phone, and you can call into meetings across the country. The list of online meetings held like this is right here.

It’s a tough time for everyone, not just people in recovery. You may feel angry, scared or hurt. Don’t keep your pain to yourself. It’s time for all communities to come together and support each other. When you’re a member of the recovery community, you have friends and people who care about you around the world.

Listen to others and learn more about how they are coping. You don’t have to pick up a drink or drug no matter what. Utilize your network and get plugged into online meetings so that you can stay sober and sane.

Getting Help for Addiction

Addiction can make a person feel hopeless and helpless. Those are feelings, not facts. Recovery offers hope and empowers you to take back your life. Even in these difficult times, spots are available in detox and rehab and providers are taking the utmost precautions. If you or your loved one needs help, we’re here. Call us at 619-363-4767 to learn more about our programs.