In the United States, the Fourth of July is often a day of celebration, with fireworks, barbecues, and https://eastcare.envigo-tech.co.uk/can-heavy-drinking-cause-low-blood-pressure/ getting together with friends or family. For many people, including those in recovery, the holidays stir up difficult memories. Feelings of loneliness can be triggering for people in recovery, even if they have a solid social support system.
Attending additional support group meetings, whether in-person or online, to reinforce your commitment to what is Oxford House sobriety is a good way to do that. Talking with your sponsor, therapist, or peers in recovery can help you process feelings and gain valuable advice for handling specific situations. Think through potential triggers, such as events where alcohol will be present or interactions with challenging family members. Planning gives you control over your environment and how you respond to it. The holidays are usually a fun, magical time, but for people in recovery, it can feel overwhelming.
Create a Support Network
Taking the step to seek additional support can ensure you’re equipped to face the season with confidence and clarity. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a situation may become too challenging. In these moments, having a pre-planned exit strategy is essential. Drive your own car to events, arrange a rideshare, or let a friend know you may need to leave early.
Develop a Comprehensive Sobriety Plan
For many, the holidays bring up strong emotions tied to past experiences. If you’ve previously used substances during holiday celebrations, those memories can resurface and create cravings. Feelings of loneliness or grief may also arise, especially if you’re spending the holidays away from loved ones or reflecting on relationships lost during your addiction. These emotional triggers can make it harder to resist the urge to relapse. Planning is crucial when it comes to staying sober during the holidays.
Having A Fun Sober Holiday
For someone in recovery, a dry holiday can provide a safer, more supportive setting, minimizing the temptation or pressure to drink. By engaging in these alcohol-free Christmas activities, you can create joyful, memorable experiences without relying on drinking. Last year, when Lauren Haydel began her first sober holiday season, she wondered how difficult it would be to avoid alcohol at family parties and celebrations with friends.
Create Accountability
With careful planning, strong support systems, and a focus on what truly matters, you can enjoy a joyful and sober holiday season. Remember, prioritizing your health and well-being is the greatest gift you can give yourself—not just during the holidays, but all year round. Embrace the journey, cherish your victories, and make this holiday season one filled with peace, joy, and fulfillment. Having a clear plan for holiday events can help you avoid surprises that might jeopardize your sobriety. Know the schedule, identify potential triggers, and decide in advance how long you’ll stay. Consider making a brief appearance or avoiding an event if it centers around heavy drinking or drug use.
The holiday season is upon us, bringing joy, connection, and celebration—but for those on the journey of sobriety, it can also present unique challenges. Festive gatherings, family traditions, and social pressures often create environments where alcohol is abundant, and for some, drugs may also be present, triggering the temptation to relapse. Our group of addiction experts understands the unique difficulties that the holiday season can bring for those in recovery, and we offer sober holidays personalized strategies to maintain sobriety. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help from facilities like Resurgence Behavioral Health.
- Ideas about how to pursue either course most effectively are below.
- The more you say no, the easier it will roll off of your sober tongue.
- If you are in recovery, especially if you’re newly sober, this might be difficult to be around.
- Instead of “powering through” triggering situations, give yourself permission to decline invitations or leave events early if needed.
- Your emotions are valid, normal, and most importantly, temporary.
When you are in recovery, the stress and festivities of the holidays can present an additional challenge to staying sober. Remembering that you are not alone – and planning ahead on how to approach the season – can help maintain your recovery, and your peace of mind. Stress-reduction techniques provide a simple, yet essential strategy for helping to prevent relapse in addiction recovery, especially during a busy or stressful holiday season. Not everyone has a family or friends to be with during the holidays, a time of year when particular focus is put on socializing and spending time with loved ones. Getting through the holidays sober can be a challenge, particularly for people in early addiction recovery.
Identify And Avoid Personal Triggers
It can be incredibly difficult to be open about this, and you might feel disappointed, ashamed, or even hopeless about your recovery. As painful as it is, relapse is a fairly common aspect of recovery. The key to getting back on track is not to try to hide it, but to be honest about it and reach out for additional support.
These triggers can lead to cravings or relapses, especially for individuals in recovery. Finding support after a relapse, or during times of struggle during the holidays, can be crucial. If you’re looking for resources and tools to help you stay on track in your recovery during the holidays, AddictionResource.net has got you covered. Don’t worry about facing this holiday season in recovery alone.
Turn off the TV, turn down the lights, read a book, or drink a cup of calming noncaffeinated tea. Before your holiday schedule becomes packed with parties, get-togethers, family dinners, and more, commit to getting regular sleep. Knowing which foods and food groups support your mood and give you energy is crucial to navigating the holidays, when people typically go heavy on sweets, carbs, or saturated fats.