The novel coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19, spread rampantly across the world, affecting millions of individuals in a variety of ways. Many states across America implemented stay-at-home orders for all non-essential workers, in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. For many, this meant forced closures of restaurants, schools, entertainment venues, and more. Those that contracted and endured the virus will be forever impacted by its severity, and every individual that died from COVID-19, did so alone with loved ones unable to be by their side. Many have and continue to face financial hardship as the economy struggles to regain its security. The world was ill-prepared for this pandemic and the emotional repercussions will no doubt be astounding. Part of the recovery process from substance abuse and/ or addiction is to be active in a sober community. This can help an individual with accountability as well as provide a support network of like-minded individuals, all with a shared goal (sobriety). Though COVID-19 may have thrown a wrench into the traditional ways of engagement and active sober support resources that once hummed as a well-oiled machine, the recovery community withstood the challenges and adjusted its machine accordingly.
Things Have Shifted
In order to take advantage of all of the sober events in the post-COVID-19 world, it is essential to change one’s frame of mind surrounding what constitutes an event. For example, sober events pre-COVID-19 could include sober concerts or sober parties, and while these may again become popular, the trauma from living through the pandemic has affected their desirability. Once it became evident that COVID-19 was not merely a two-week scare, people were forced to adapt to the living during and make notable changes to society’s norms. This included shifting work to virtual settings (where possible), uploading and sharing an exorbitant amount of content via the Internet, and relying on communication methods that could be carried out remotely. Hence, all in-person sober events were forced to close or provide an alternate method for attending (e.g. convert to a virtual event). Currently, there are many online resources that compile lists of various sober events, both in person and virtually, some of which include:
The times of COVID-19 were unprecedented, and the countless ways society was forced to shift in order to accommodate its presence are likely to forever change certain aspects that were once integral to American culture. Remaining open to the newly widened range of how events are held and learning to appreciate their unique nuances will only expand one’s options of sober events and potential for making sober connections.
For Information and Support
Substance abuse and addiction can be incredibly dangerous and can result in severe short and long-term consequences. If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse or addiction, please get help as soon as possible. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you and your loved ones can return to leading happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. There is no reason to go through this alone, and we are here to help. Please feel free to reach out to us for further information or with any questions regarding substance abuse or addiction. We are available anytime via telephone at: 213-389-9964, or you can always email us at: info@friendlyhousela.org.
