The city of Los Angeles has been in a state of crisis this week due to the devastating wildfires surrounding the city. This natural disaster, and the associated mental health issues that can arise when going through a crisis, can create significant challenges for those affected, and their loved ones.
The recovery community and those suffering from substance use disorders can be particularly affected in times of crisis. The devastation, grief, increased anxiety, forced isolation, and fear of what may happen are all emotions that heighten the risk of relapse. During times of crisis such as now, effective relapse prevention strategies are crucial for sustaining your recovery.
We are the leading experts in addiction treatment and relapse prevention in the Los Angeles, California area. Call us today to get started.
Emotional Fallout of Natural Disasters
Natural disasters bring about more than just physical destruction, there is also severe emotional distress the entire community is facing, not only for those personally experiencing physical destruction.
If you are in recovery from drug or alcohol use, the sudden upheaval of your daily life, losing your home, the anxiety of possibly losing your home, or constant anxiety related to threats of wildfires can stir up these intense feelings of fear, specifically around the unknown, as well as feelings of helplessness. These emotions can cause you to revert to old coping mechanisms, including the use of substances, which can lead to more disasters down the road.
How Crisis Disrupts Recovery Routines
Crisis situations are also a time when it can be easy for you in your recovery to let up on the daily actions that you take to keep yourself in a recovered state, such as daily routines of meditation, prayer, or affirmations, going to 12-step meetings, therapy, and counseling sessions, talking to a mentor, sponsor, or friend, or engaging in other forms of self-care. These factors combined with the stress of the crisis situation can create an environment ripe for relapse.
5 Essential Strategies for Preventing Relapse During Crisis
The first step in preventing relapse during a crisis is recognizing early warning signs and potential red flags, also known as “triggers”. Natural disasters can increase feelings of anxiety and fear, isolation, loneliness, and grief and loss.
Relapse occurs over time, with many factors contributing to a future relapse. In recovery, you should develop a crisis plan, including strategies to manage symptoms and emotions effectively to prevent a physical relapse. Some of the key strategies for relapse prevention are:
1. Building Your Crisis Communication Network
Create a list of supportive contacts, including sponsors, friends, counselors, and supportive family members. Having a support system in place and multiple modes of supportive contacts is important during times of crisis due to the possibility of communication networks failing.
2. Stay Connected to 12-Step Groups
If your area is affected and you are unable to attend traditional groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or Al-Anon Family Group, there are alternate modes of staying connected to community. If we learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, the recovery community is extremely resilient and creative.
Online support groups and meetings are available, allowing you to find support, fellowship, and recovery, a way of staying connected amidst any crisis.
Recovery Group Links:
AA Meetings in Los Angeles: https://lacoaa.org/meetings.php
AA Meetings in the South Bay: https://asbco.org/meetings/
AA’s Online Intergroup Meeting Finder: https://aa-intergroup.org/
Al-Anon Family Groups of Los Angeles: https://alanonla.org/
3. Practice Self-Care
Engage in activities that promote physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. This can include meditation, exercise, reading or any other activity that allows one to alleviate anxiety.
A simple technique that takes no time to learn is box breathing. Box breathing is a technique that involves inhaling for a specific count, holding the breath for the same count, exhaling for that count, and pausing before the next inhale, typically utilizing a four-count rhythm. Apps like Headspace and Insight Timer can be great outlets for breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness.
Related: Why Self Care is Essential for Mental Health
4. Limit Exposure to News and Social Media
While it is important to stay informed, too much exposure will feed into anxiety and fear, causing a snowball-like effect. Creating specific limits on the amount of time for checking in to the news or social media to stay updated and current on the latest evacuation notices and safety precautions can allow you to stay safe yet allow you time to focus on less triggering information.
Related: Social Media and Mental Health
5. Reach Out for Professional Help
If you or anyone else is struggling with your recovery during a crisis, don’t hesitate to reach out to a counselor or therapist today. Online therapy is an amazing support tool and one that we pride ourselves on at Clear Behavioral Health.
Virtual and In-Person Treatment Options in Los Angeles
Our virtual outpatient treatment program is here to help if you or a loved one who needs additional support during times of crisis or the hereafter. We focus on your mental health needs in our virtual program and provide support to help you maintain your recovery through tough natural disasters or times of crisis.
Residential Treatment Programs
Our residential rehab and detox programs throughout Los Angeles, California offer personalized support. Our team of clinicians, therapists, and counselors create a tailored treatment plan based on your individual needs, and where you are on your recovery journey.
Our residential rehab homes provide around the clock support with medication management for any withdrawals you may experience, relapse prevention, therapy and case management sessions to help you understand the root of your substance abuse.
Our robust treatment strategies will help you learn healthy coping skills, build essential life-skills, find community in group therapy with your peers, and discover holistic therapy methods to heal your mind and body connection.
Maintaining Recovery During Natural Disasters
Natural disasters like the fires raging in Los Angeles pose a unique set of challenges for those in recovery. Sticking to a relapse prevention plan will give you structure and support, especially in a time when it is so easy to get stuck in a disaster cycle by watching the news, rather than attending your weekly AA meeting or your therapy session.
Learn more about relapse prevention plans and our addiction treatment programs in the Los Angeles, California area. Reach out to our experts today.
Our Treatment Locations and Programs
Recovery is a way of life and in rain, sleet, snow, or fire, it is imperative that you continue to take action in your recovery in a positive direction. At Clear Behavioral Health we are here to help with all of our treatment programs conveniently in-network with most insurances.
We offer medical detox and residential rehab treatment, dual diagnosis treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) for both adults and teens throughout the Los Angeles, CA area including Van Nuys, CA, Gardena, CA, and Pasadena, CA, as well as our versatile, Virtual IOP available to all residents of California. Give us a call to get support today.
