Coronavirus, disruption and addiction

Our lives have become disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. This is not easy. Disruption can cause anxiety and, sometimes, a desire to deny the reality. But when disruption is accepted, and when we use reason and inner strength, valuable lessons can be learned.

I was once told, during a time of great disruption in my life, that I might not be able to make anything better right away, but what I could do was not make things worse. As this pandemic disrupts, it requires us to be smart and level headed, to have clear judgement. When someone’s constantly under the influence of a drug that impairs judgement, the effects of the drug create impulsive actions, a tendency to take risks and to ignore consequences.

It’s times like this which clarify why people with an addiction disorder should seek help. I’m not being opportunistic here, I’m being very realistic. When AIDS became a national problem, addicts suffered disproportionately from the regular population. It’s because they were constantly, under the influence, taking actions that put them at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. The same will hold true for people with addiction during this Coronavirus pandemic.

Individuals will tell themselves to be careful, but once under the influence, their judgement’s impaired and they begin to take risks despite promises to be careful. If addicts could simply control the effects drugs have on their mind and how drugs affect their behavior, there wouldn’t be a problem. It’s the reason people who can’t control their drinking get multiple DUIs. After each DUI, they say never again, not again, but then they start drinking and get so drunk they shut out thoughts of consequences and take the risk.

One of the greatest benefits of recovery from addiction is in recovery the mind clears, good judgement returns, and the recovering person is no longer insanely putting themselves at risk over and over. This would be a good time to reclaim a clear mind and good judgement.