COVID-19 Job Loss and Addiction

By Geoffrey Booth, M.D., Medical Director, LifeSync Malibu

Nothing sparks anxiety like losing your job. Unfortunately, in the era of the pandemic, job losses have continued to mount nationwide. The economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has only amplified all the other stressors we are enduring this year. Government assistance has been slow and inadequate, leaving many in dire financial straits.

People are experiencing enhanced levels of anxiety and depression this year, and this has caused substance abuse rates to skyrocket. Using drugs or alcohol to manage feelings of isolation and loneliness, boredom, and anxiety over the virus is understandable. Adding a job loss may be just enough added stress to fuel a substance use disorder.

For those individuals already in recovery, 2020 has posed significant challenges. Financial stress is a significant trigger for relapse, even in the best of times. Further, recovery support resources were unavailable for a certain period while services shifted online. The online support sources are helpful, but not optimal.

Now that we are ten months into the pandemic, let’s take a look at some tips that have helped people to avoid a relapse after losing their job.

7 Tips to Reinforce Recovery After a COVID-19 Job Loss

People in addiction recovery who experience a job loss have a compound dilemma: How to stay afloat financially while also not succumbing to a relapse. The pandemic sows the feelings of a loss of control over many aspects of life. Losing your source of income is a devastating development, and could threaten recovery. To work through the setbacks and keep sobriety intact, consider these coping tips:

1. Sign up for assistance. For some people, a job loss can be devastating. With a tightening employment picture, finding a replacement gig during a pandemic might prove elusive. To help restore at least some of the lost income, be sure to apply for unemployment benefits right away. Currently, federal boosts of $300 per week may help take some of the sting away. Other social services, such as food assistance programs, are also available. Don’t hesitate to access all sources of assistance as early as possible to reduce anxiety over the loss of regular income.

2. Participate in online recovery meetings. Recovery support services are a key source of ongoing help. Currently, many in-person meetings are shifting back to the digital formats. Fortunately, recovery stalwarts like A.A., N.A., SMART Recovery and others have established online video platforms to provide social support. While the virtual meetings are not ideal, they do provide the needed social support and camaraderie so important during these times. The online meetings are available at all hours of the day, right from the comfort of your own living room.

3. Stay disciplined. If you have lost your job it might be tempting to stay up later than usual at night and then sleeping in. With no sense of urgency about the day, it is easy to fall into bad habits while the stay at home policies are in place. Avoid losing your self-discipline. Stick to as normal a schedule as possible, including keeping up your sleep schedules. List daily tasks to help provide some structure to the days. This helps to avoid becoming lazy and bored, as boredom is a significant relapse trigger.

4. Stay connected socially. The pandemic has caused people to feel isolated and lonely. If you are no longer working with colleagues, feelings of loneliness could become concerning. For the sake of your recovery and your mental health it is important to maintain connection with friends, family members, and colleagues during the stay at home period. Video chat platforms, like Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Skype, provide free services that allow people to gather socially online.

5. Set some goals. To help pass the time until you are working again, why not make some new goals to aspire to. Set some new fitness goals, such as running or walking an extra ¼ mile each day or an extra mile per week, or swimming a couple more laps each week. There are plenty of endeavors you can conquer during this time off work. Maybe start a home improvement project, take an online cooking class, or master a new language. Make the most of this spare time to help avoid boredom from creeping in.

6. Get inspired. There are some highly inspiring recovery podcasts and YouTube channels that invite guests to share about conquering addiction. If you hit a rough patch, it can really help motivate you when you hear someone share how he or she has navigated their own recovery challenges and emerged victorious. Check out The Bubble Hour, Busy Living Sober, and A Sober Girl’s Guide podcasts and get inspired.

7. Mind your mental health. Relapse rarely occurs suddenly. Usually, there is a preceding pattern of weakening commitment toward recovery that slowly erodes sustainability until the disease takes hold again. Be aware of the threats to your recovery, These might include feelings of loneliness, boredom, anxiety, or depression. Remain mindful of your emotional state. If you see cracks forming, be proactive and reach out to a sponsor, or an online recovery community, a therapist, or a trusted friend.

Recovery Support During COVID-19

If you have lost your job you are probably not in a good place emotionally. If you are experiencing the warning signs of an impending relapse, you must act. The disease is cunning and seeks fissures in the façade, so doing nothing is to tempt fate. Be proactive and get the professional help you need if you sense your recovery is at risk.

During the pandemic there are many avenues still available for accessing treatment. If you have recently succumbed to a relapse, or if you have developed a substance use disorder during the COVID-19 event, rehabs are considered essential and are still operating. Residential rehabs are currently accepting clients and are practicing all the safety protocols for COVID. Outpatient rehabs have shifted over to telehealth platforms that provide convenient online therapy and support. Reach out and get the help you need.

About the Author

Geoffrey A. Booth, M.D. is the Medical Director of LifeSync Malibu, an exclusive rehabilitation program located in the heart of Malibu. Dr. Booth has treated thousands of addicts over the years and now has dedicated most of his clinical time to providing medical care and detoxification to clients who suffer from substance abuse. He is committed to helping them establish the foundations for long-term sobriety. While not working, Dr. Booth has a rich personal life filled with activities surrounded by friends and family.