Recovery in a time of Isolation – 325
Are you “sheltering in place”? How are you able to participate in recovery when you can’t meet face to face with other members? Spencer and Marylou discuss how they are experiencing recovery during this time of isolation and “sheltering in place” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our conversation was sparked by an email that Marylou sent with these ideas. * Alcoholism is a disease of isolation, which in the current situation, is being forced upon us all.* Some of those at highest risk for the virus are also at the highest risk for social isolation.* These individuals may also lack experience with and/or fear technology.* It would be an act of service for those with enough recovery (or bandwidth), on a regular basis, to reach out to those individuals in your groups who don’t have a smart phone or computer access.* It could also be an act of service to help a person new to technology work their way through installing and using an app to access a meeting via their phone or computer.* We are all going to have to lower our standards a bit – e-meetings may not be the same as in-person meetings but the question I’ve been asking myself is: are they good enough for the current situation? My experience thus far is yes, they’re not the same but good enough.* If, in the past, you have been deeply uncomfortable with what seemed like the “perils of technology”, maybe this crisis is presenting us with an opportunity to do the steps on this issue. I have found that there’s almost no problem or situation that can’t benefit from using the 12 steps to explore.* In meetings, we sometimes joke about our own unwillingness to try new things or think in new ways. This crisis presents us all with an opportunity to work the program using our principles. At the end, several listeners wrote and called with their own thoughts, experience, strength, and hope about online meetings and how they are living through this moment. Readings and Links Marylou chose two readings from Hope for Today, an Al-Anon daily reader: January 30 and February 8. Matthew sent us an infographic with 9 Tips for Coping With Social DistancingDownload Upcoming topics Upcoming topics include the experiences of dual-program members, and how do you practice the 12 steps as an atheist or agnostic? Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email feedback@therecovery.show with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here.