For someone struggling with addiction, community is a big part of being in recovery. Since the coronavirus outbreak began and social distancing became normal, recovery has become more challenging. This is part of a series of stories reflecting on these new challenges during lockdown. 

I am attending five to seven online NA meetings a week, and I am a co-host on the Sunday Shoreditch meeting. Over time, I have begun to figure out which meetings are helpful to my recovery and now I just stick to those meetings. I do have some concerns around ‘trolling’ in meetings but this has lessened now as the meetings I partake in have put secure measures in place for this stuff.

The most challenging thing about quarantine for me was the transition from group therapy to creating my own recovery package and routine. However, this was at the very beginning of quarantine.

Now, I see how this lockdown has been good in the sense that it has pushed me towards embracing change. For me, I have replaced group therapy with the AA fellowship and recovery. I do readings in the morning, working on my 12 steps with a meditation group via Zoom for 40 minutes a day (Monday to Friday) and five online meeting per week. Recently, I have been reading literature on recovery with some friends in recovery.

“My advice to others would be embrace the program of NA/AA in all its forms – step work, meetings, service, even if your service is helping others to connect with online meetings.”

I am really enjoying working on my 12-steps on Zoom as this is helping me continue to understand my addiction. I also enjoy being able to read out my 12-step work with my therapist on a weekly basis. She has allowed me to work through the 12-step working guide as opposed to work sheets and I have really been able to dig deeper than I ever have done so before.

I stay connected with the fellowship and family via Zoom and Face-Time respectively. This has been a massive help for me as I am able to identify with fellow addicts and connect with my family which are both important for my well-being.

My advice to others would be to embrace the program of NA/AA in all its forms – step work, meetings, service, even if your service is helping others to connect with online meetings. Find a balance between the programme and time to embrace hobbies. Stay active but also put aside time for rest or ‘me time’.

– By a resident of SCT’s recovery programme. 

Click here for resources available online for managing recovery during the outbreak of COVID-19.