The effects of Covid-19 and the pandemic that it’s caused still remain an ongoing disturbance, hindrance and challenge to manoeuvre around.
Such disturbance is especially linked to the accessibility and availability of everyday healthcare services, where addiction and mental health support stand as prevalent here.
Unfortunately, those with pre-existing diagnoses are struggling to secure quality face to face therapy sessions in the midst of lockdown efforts and social distancing.
Those who are experiencing initial symptoms of addiction are also experiencing challenges, where undiagnosed and untreated substance use disorders are developing, soon showcasing as ingrained addictions.
Naturally, the aim is to minimise the spread and impact of Covid-19, to protect our NHS for the long term. Yet, through this aim, such efforts are outweighing the pleading needs of addiction therapy.
If you are struggling, there are however online resources to assist with the management of addiction, to provide a degree of treatment, and to guide you through the turbulence of both crises.
It’s important to remember that your mental health matters, that you deserve to experience addiction therapy, and that care is still available during the pandemic.
Here’s the accessibility of remote addiction therapy during the pandemic, along with fitting types of online therapy services, offering a quality capacity of accountability, motivation, security and purpose.
Lockdowns effect on addiction and mental health
From increased loneliness and the constraining effects of social distancing to sadness, loss, grief, change and a lack of control, the rate of both addiction and mental health issues have increased during the pandemic.
It’s clear to see why such psychological damage has been encountered, from the correlating evidence that loneliness does influence greater substance abuse rates, to the underfunded and inaccessible offering of addiction therapy.
It’s found that 93% of countries are in fact suffering from paused or unravelled offerings of mental health and addiction therapy support, causing an even bigger gap down to increased demand.
Through lockdowns, it’s understandable that the economy and NHS require protection, in order to bounce back and operate for the long term. However, underfunded services and an increase in addiction and mental health diagnoses have caused an imbalance, where the optimal focus of care has been unknowingly neglected.
More and more people are struggling through the unknown of the pandemic, resulting in heavier drinking habits. Loneliness and a change in routine are throwing many recovering addicts off track, causing relapse, yet without the safety blanket of face-to-face support.
Many individuals are going undiagnosed, as significant appointment delays are experienced through lockdowns. All of these factors, alongside the influences that Covid-19 have had on our purpose as humans have caused such uproar, requiring a different way of operating.
Here’s where remote addiction therapy during the pandemic has shown up, to provide recovering addicts and newly diagnosed individuals with structure, support and hope through the unprecedented time of Covid-19.
The benefits of remote addiction therapy during the pandemic
Understandably, online addiction therapy will not be as effective as face-to-face support for all individuals. While remote services will be favoured by some, in the peak of addiction, connectivity, physical interaction and support will prevail via tangible rehab services, offering a security blanket for many recovering addicts.
Although this may be the case, there are benefits of remote addiction therapy during the pandemic, which if you’re suffering, should be considered as a filler service.
That is in fact the first benefit, where remote addiction therapy offers consistent exposure of professional support, up until face-to-face services can continue. Consistency, ongoing touchpoints and the knowledge of such availability are highly influential through addiction recovery.
A further benefit is that you can access such services wherever you may be. You can tap into professional addiction therapy on a remote basis, where the most fitting form can in fact be experienced. This may not be the case if you were to experience face-to-face therapy during the pandemic.
There is also a wide range of remote addiction therapy resources available, suited for different needs and experiences. Depending on how you’re feeling, the point of your addiction diagnosis, or the stage of your addiction recovery encounter, online addiction therapy will be accessible, whether through individual or support group structures.
It’s understandable if you’re feeling lost, low or disheartened by the paused service of many addiction therapy programmes. However, to remain on track, and to continue the journey of addiction recovery, tapping into remote treatment services will be encouraged.
Through remote addiction therapy and secure lifestyle choices, managing loneliness, mental health symptoms, cravings and the process of recovery is doable.
Types of online addiction therapy available through rehab
There’s a diverse offering of remote addiction therapy that you can either access online, or through a private rehab clinic, both benefiting the addiction recovery process during the pandemic. Finding the right degree and format of support, for your needs will be advantageous.
Cognitive behavioural therapy online
Cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the key treatment services which is recommended through addiction rehabilitation. Such service can be experienced online, through one-to-one sessions with a therapist.
Available on a consistent basis, CBT offers support for digesting emotions and responses, with the attempt to change the angle of outlooks surrounding addictive stimuli.
Your attachment to drugs and alcohol can be worked through, can be understood and can be changed by partaking in cognitive behavioural therapy, available on a confidential, virtual and one to one basis.
Online support groups
Support is invaluable through addiction recovery and especially through the restraining impacts of isolation. Online support groups are available as a form of addiction therapy, in place to promote community, accountability and perspective; all extremely helpful with developing a recovery driven mindset.
Specific remote addiction therapy groups will be available, such as alcoholics anonymous and narcotics anonymous. It’s recommended to partake in a professional controlled group to minimise regression and discredited advice.
SMART recovery
SMART recovery, standing as a recovery training service with self-management in mind is available online for sufferers and those around them to learn and to put into practice independent coping strategies. While this isn’t a talking therapy in itself, it’s an effective tool to manoeuvre through the necessary needs of remote recovery.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp stands as an organisation that promotes and refers to suitable talking therapy sessions. The perk is that such addiction therapy sessions are available on a remote basis, making it possible to speak to a professional in a crisis or in the height of symptoms.
Headspace
Mindfulness is highly associated with addiction recovery, as it works on mental health and perspective. Headspace is a useful app to download, which offers breathing and relaxation techniques, focuses on rest, and balance, and helps to combat stress, which is an addiction trigger for many.
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the pandemic. Combined with the consequences of addiction, such feelings can be tough to digest. With resources such as Headspace, working through stress is possible.
Support of rehab clinics during the pandemic
Rehab clinics, like the ones we recommend here at Action Rehab, offer a wealth of support, some of which can be sourced remotely, and other forms which are still on a face-to-face basis. Addiction therapy during the pandemic is still available, as your mental health matters just as much as your physical.
There are many benefits to remote addiction therapy during the pandemic, especially if you’re managing your addiction or cannot access further treatment services. Yet please remember that physical support is also available to help you through your addiction and the pandemic.
Sources
https://www.verywellmind.com/support-for-mental-health-and-addiction-issues-during-covid-19-4801794
https://www.betterhelp.com/about/
Posted on Friday, May 7th, 2021 at 10:05 am in Addiction, Latest News, Rehab.
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