How To Deal With The Anxiety Of Leaving Quarantine

Spending weeks in quarantine was not part of anyone’s plans for 2020. But as stay-at-home orders are lifted, dealing with the anxiety of leaving quarantine might well be something you don’t feel prepared for.

When I got into drug rehab, I wanted to recover and leave as quickly as possible. It was strange to hear so many recovering addicts at the end of their rehab journeys expressing a wish that they could stay a bit longer.

By the time my discharge date arrived, I understood exactly how they felt. Drug rehab was incredibly tough and I missed my regular life. However, the knowledge that I was leaving rehab brought up anxieties about not only my triggers, but getting used to doing things for myself as well.

As quarantine comes to an end, I’m experiencing similar anxieties. I haven’t had to manage many of my triggers in quite a while. And tasks that used to be second nature, like running errands and going grocery shopping, now seem almost overwhelming.

This struggle might be particularly poignant for those of us who have battled addiction and anxiety, but many people are going through it for the first time. The world appears much more difficult to contend when you’ve dealt with such a low level of stimulation for so long.

If you’re worried about dealing with the anxiety of leaving quarantine, here are some tips to help you along the way.

Get help

When you leave drug rehab, you don’t return to complete independence immediately. On the contrary, you start aftercare programs, attend groups and meetings, and see a therapist. There is no reason not to get similar help in today’s scenario.

If you haven’t been seeing a therapist during quarantine, now is a good time to start. It may also be a good idea to start attending support groups and meetings again. Book an appointment with your psychiatrist if you think you might need an adjustment of your anxiety medication.

Keep some quarantine habits

Now that you can leave your home more freely, you might feel like you have to go back to life as normal. The reality is that the world is not yet back to normal, and won’t be for a while. Furthermore, we have learned over the past few months that certain things can be done differently.

You don’t need to go to the grocery store just because you can do so with more freedom now. The extra cash spent on service and delivery costs might well be worth it to avoid a trip that drains time and energy.

If working from home has made your life easier, especially since you don’t have to deal with travel time and other admin, find out whether you can continue working from home some of the time.

COVID-19 is still reason to stay home

Another important factor to take into account is that COVID-19 is not over. If you’re like me, you are not ready to start seeing anyone and everyone again. You are still anxious about your chances of getting the virus. This is not an unreasonable concern, and you should take that into account when saying no to plans.

You might feel guilty about not meeting up with friends and family who don’t take the threat as seriously, but you need to consider both your mental and physical wellbeing. Just like you would be careful about which plans to say yes to after leaving rehab, allow yourself to do the same after quarantine.

Ultimately, the way you approach life after quarantine should not be about anyone but yourself. The anxiety is natural. Get the help you need and take it as slowly as you need to.

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Best Free Addiction Recovery Apps For Mobile

Addiction recovery apps can be an incredible supplement to your recovery journey. Because addiction is a complicated disease, recovery does not end when you leave rehab. On the contrary, rehab is the start of your journey. When you are working through an outpatient program, or are getting back to your regular routine, addiction recovery apps can help you stay sober.

Please note that the following addiction recovery apps are intended as a supplement to a complete treatment program. While they are very helpful to recovering addicts who have left rehab, they are unlikely to help you beat addiction in the first place.

The following are 3 of the best free addiction recovery apps for mobile.

Sober Grid

One of the most important tools for people recovering from addiction is community support. A good community is a significant part of rehab programs, outpatient support, and 12 Step meetings. Sober Grid is an addiction recovery app that provides an extensive virtual community for recovering addicts.

Sober Grid is a kind of social media platform, except it is more similar to chat room apps like Discord than a platform like Facebook or Twitter. On Sober Grid, you can join a number of groups to discuss how you’re feeling. You can get answers to questions which might be nagging you, with advice from peers who have been through or are going through something similar. Simply finding out that you are not alone can be quite helpful and reassuring.

Beyond the community, Sober Grid has tools which prompt you to check in every day with how you are feeling. It gives you space to make a daily pledge for yourself. And every day it provides unique quests that will help you achieve your sobriety goals.

SoberTool

If you want a simple addiction recovery app that tracks your days of sobriety, SoberTool is perfect. SoberTool prompts you with a daily check in. You can track your days of recovery, including any relapses. Not only does it track your recovery itself, but it tracks your moods and feelings as well. This way, it helps you get a better understanding of what incidents and feelings lead to greater urges.

SoberTool gives you motivational messages, along with a search engine for addiction recovery-related questions. There is also a chat function, although it is not as developed as the community provided by Sober Grid. A great additional feature on SoberTool is an activity to help you avoid relapse when triggered, with questions to work through and uplifting messages.

Nomo

Nomo is another simple app that lets you create a number of sober clocks. You can use these to track how long you have been sober, how long a relapse lasts, along with any other habits which threaten your sobriety. It gives you a clear idea of exactly where you are in your journey.

You can share these sober clocks with loved ones, who can then motivate you when you feel at risk of relapse. You can also connect it to your social media in order to share achievements with your network.

Nomo is perfect for anyone who wants an uncomplicated tracker that connects them with their supporters.

All of the above apps are free and allow you to remain completely anonymous. Remember that these apps are supplemental to your recovery and are not a replacement for intensive addiction treatment.

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source https://www.serenitymaliburehab.com/best-free-addiction-recovery-apps-for-mobile/

3 Ways To Make Money With A Criminal Record

I have a criminal record. It took me years to own this fact, but I have never been able to ignore it completely. I’m lucky that it’s just a minor possession charge. During my years of addiction, I did a lot worse than forget to hide the weed in my car, but I never got caught. Many addicts cannot say the same.

It’s no secret that America’s justice system is broken. Most addicts know this, as it is especially evident when it comes to drug use. Drug use is still seen as a moral choice and offenders are punished rather than rehabilitated. Furthermore, while addiction should be seen as a mitigating factor when judging other crimes, it is often used to shine a negative light on the individual.

Of course, we could talk all day about how the justice system discriminates against people on the lines of race and socioeconomic background, but for now I’m going to focus on something that all “offenders” have in common: a criminal record.

A criminal record makes it difficult to find work. Many employers will write applicants off because of their criminal records, regardless of the type of charge. Arrest records can also disadvantage you, even if you were not convicted of anything. It can feel disheartening, as if you’ve been set up to fail. But there are ways to make money regardless of your criminal record.

Here are some possibilities to consider.

Expungement

Before going into the various ways to make money with a criminal record, look into whether you can get your criminal record sealed or expunged. Sealing a criminal record takes it out of public view, but it can still be viewed by court order. Expungement removes all records of arrests or convictions, so that even a court or prosecutor cannot see it.

Sealing and expunging of criminal records is generally possible for minor offenses after a period of time has passed. The Center for American Progress has a helpful guide you can use to determine if you are eligible for sealing or expunging your record.

Skilled labor

Some of the highest paying jobs you can find with a criminal record are those that require skilled labor. These include electrical, plumbing, welding, and carpentry work. Attending a trade school is the ideal way of getting your foot in the door. At a trade school, not only will you learn a skill, but you will also get resources to help you find a job. Trade schools have plenty of experience helping people with criminal records getting jobs after completing a course.

Alternatively, if you have the capital or can get a bank loan, you can start your own business doing skilled handiwork. This way, you have control of your own employment and can set your own rates.

Online freelancing

Online freelancing has become one of the most surefire ways to make money in 2020, even for people without a criminal record. As we have learned this year, the world we live in is not as stable as we thought, and employment at a traditional job can be disrupted by external factors.

If you are able to write, code, design, sing, make music, and more, you can trade your services online. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr provide a platform that connects freelancers and clients. There are also many websites created by successful freelancers who can help you learn to pitch your services without using a platform, allowing you to forego commissions and charge higher rates.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. If you urgently need money, starting a business may be far too risky. Furthermore, some personalities are naturally more suited to entrepreneurship, while starting a business is a much more difficult endeavor for others. Also, setting up a business is far easier if you already have a network. Many recovering addicts do not.

However, if you are in a position to start your own business, this can be an incredibly satisfying way of making money. You get to circumvent your criminal record entirely, while working entirely for yourself.

Making money with a criminal record is not easy, but there are options. Ask for help from NGOs and for resources from your rehab center, and you won’t have to go it alone.

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