Officials from The Way Out Recovery SCV outpatient rehab in Santa Clarita discussed how communication can be vital to maintaining recovery.

Bob Sharits, program director and community outreach specialist with The Way Out Recovery SCV, an outpatient rehab in Santa Clarita, noted that the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on the recovery community.

“With all the stuff that’s been going on, there’s an increase in stress,” Sharits said. “I can feel that I’m clenching my jaw more these days. I’m biting my lip more, I’m feeling this anxiety that’s sitting right there. And I would consider myself having a pretty good mental health ongoing program — I take care of myself pretty well. I check in with my therapist, I talk to my people, I go to meetings, I exercise, I eat pretty good. I do all of that stuff and I’m feeling it.”

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Sharits said this stress can be particularly debilitating for those struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues.

“I think that everybody could use a little bit of coping skills,” Sharits said. For those whose substance abuse or mental health problems cause “significant problems in (their) life,” community connection can play a vital role in recovery.

However, Sharits noted that, with the social distancing rules in place to protect people from the coronavirus pandemic, those recovering from addiction or mental health issues are in a “catch-22” situation.

Sharits noted that in-person gatherings lead members to “increase the risk (of worsening the pandemic) if we’re together like that.” However, staying socially isolated can mean “increasing the risk of our other potentially fatal disease getting us,” he continued.

“And so we sit in the middle of this place and it’s been really interesting to watch our recovery community and how they have really risen to that challenge,” Sharits said.

Sharits noted that, once social distancing measures were put into place, online 12-step programs sprung up “overnight” to help fill the gap. However, these online meetings may leave some members still feeling very alone.

In the absence of these in-person meetings, Sharits said he’s been forced to question whether or not meetings are his “only coping skill.”

“What else do I have in my toolbag?” Sharits asked. “Ask yourself that question as you sit here today. … There’s a lot of stuff going on. What else do you have in your toolbag?”

One of the main things Sharits said he learned, as he progressed in his recovery, aided by 12-step meetings, was to reach out on an individual basis to members of his recovery community for support.

“My first year and a half or so, the only interaction I had with other recovering people was when I was at meetings,” said Sharits. “I got a lot of phone numbers and I gave my phone number out, but … I wasn’t making the calls.”

Sharits said once he started calling members of his support community, he started to feel more connected to others and less alone.

“What I’m doing now is I’m not going to a whole lot of Zoom meetings,” Sharits said. “I go to a few online meetings. But I’m calling people on a regular basis. Every day I have conversations with other recovering people. That’s my whole community.”

Sharits recommended asking for permission to continue conversations offline via private phone calls outside of online meetings for those who need more human connection in these socially-distanced times.

“When I’m at some of those (online) meetings, I might want to ask, ‘Hey, can I communicate with some of you guys offline? Because I need that constant communication,’” Sharits suggested.

For the time being, The Way Out Recovery SCV outpatient rehab in Santa Clarita has announced limited seating in-person meetings will be possible as the ‘Safer at Home’ guidelines are relaxed, but as with all things during these uncertain times, availability is subject to change as health officials monitor the ongoing situation.

Bob Sharits has made his personal cell phone available to those who need to reach out for resources and support during this “high-risk-for-relapse time.” You can reach Sharits via his cell phone at (661) 383-6550, or call (661) 296-4444 to speak with The Way Out Recovery SCV’s main offices.

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Community Spotlight for The Way Out Recovery Outpatient Rehab in Santa Clarita.

In Santa Clarita, drug issues are a major concern for many. The mission of The Way Out Recovery Outpatient Rehab in Santa Clarita is to provide high quality, effective alcohol and drug rehab outpatient services to the Santa Clarita Valley. The Santa Clarita rehab’s goal is to assist adolescents, adults and their loved ones in becoming happily and usefully whole, free from drug addiction. Those seeking alcohol and drug treatment in Santa Clarita, a drug rehab in Santa Clarita, a teen drug rehab or simply a “rehab near me” can rest assured that The Way Out Recovery SCV’s philosophy is to teach life-long coping skills and strategies to assist in improving quality of life and living happily and meaningfully without the need of destructive behaviors.

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