Recovering from Addiction

Reclaim your health

The COVID 19 pandemic and associated stressors created new challenges for most people. In some cases, people found themselves struggling with increased social isolation or new financial worries. Many parents struggled with managing obligations to work while also home-schooling children. All of this was unfolding during a time of heightened civil unrest and discord and challenges to our society's institutions. It is no wonder that many people who hadn't previously struggled with hazardous drinking patterns found themselves suddenly consuming more and more alcohol as a means for coping.

Mental health professionals are increasingly seeing patients coming in requesting help related to their substance use patterns. What initially started as reaching for a drink to ease anxiety at the end of the day, may have morphed into drinking 3 or more drinks everyday, sometimes more. Although they may still be functioning in their daily life, they recognize that the anxiety they first tried to ease has only worsened with time, and along with it has come higher levels of depression and despair.

Fortunately, there are treatment options and support available. In addition to the traditional groups and organizations that have been available in most communities, there are also newer resources available to support people in their goals towards living a healthier lifestyle. The internet has made many groups available to people regardless of where they are located. There are evidenced based models of psychotherapy for addiction and substance use disorders. There are also several medications which can be helpful including naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.

If you are seeking to reduce your drinking and looking for support, I encourage you to reach out to your primary care doctor for help and guidance on resources available in your community. Help is available, treatments are effective, and you can heal from addiction and substance use disorders.