Keeping your daily routine on track will help you stay focused on recovery. Remember, each piece of additional treatment and support only strengthens your stand against relapse. If you do decide to attend a holiday event where you suspect there may be triggers, it is important to plan ahead. All of us need connection and support in our recovery; especially during the holidays. Make your recovery meetings a priority, find time with friends who enrich you, and surround yourself with those who make you feel known and loved.
Therefore, people with SAD may have troubling depressive episodes, persistent low mood, loss of interest in usual activities, fatigue, low appetite, and sleep issues. Navigating the holidays sober can be a challenge – but it is very rewarding. Maintain focus on health and sobriety by scheduling self-care, just as you would any other critical appointment.
Trying to Stay Sober This Holiday Season? We’ve Got You Covered
Share with your family and friends so they can help and support your recovery. A supportive family can make the difference between recovery and relapse. Family members need to get involved in their own recovery from codependency. Then, you and your loved ones can work together as a team to recover together and avoid holiday relapse. Sober Holidays Tip #15 Remember that being in recovery doesn’t mean instant heaven or a perfect life. Coming to grips with the idea that sobriety is not instant heaven is an important step in recovery.
Staying sober from drugs and alcohol during the holidays, for some, is only half the battle for staying grounded and secure in recovery. However, many people experience more stress during the holiday season, making this trigger more pertinent this time of year. Stress is a common trigger for relapse not just during the holidays, but at any point in the recovery process from alcohol or drug addiction. For people with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders, such as addiction and depression, drinking or drug use may have been a way to self-medicate.
Family and Children’s Programs
In our recent episode of the Addiction Help Podcast, we explored several strategies for staying sober during these times. Let’s delve deeper into these strategies and share insights from my journey and our podcast discussions. The holidays can be an incredibly stressful time for anyone, especially those struggling with a substance use disorder or mental health condition.
Engaging in service work is far more beneficial for our sobriety than simply writing end-of-the-year checks to our favorite charities. Sacrificing for others is the fastest way to take our focus https://ecosoberhouse.com/ off ourselves and shift it to the world around us. Being a part of the bigger story is where we find purpose and hope which shifts our gaze away from the self-centered fear of our addiction.
Five Practices for Staying Sober During the Holidays
Your recovery creates a bridge to all areas of normal living which includes holidays. A sober holiday allows you to enjoy the luxury of time away as many others do, whilst staying sober. You need to investigate and challenge the internal monologue about what you are owed and what you are lacking—some of which might be a carryover from addiction. Then you can break down those defensive walls and forgive other people, and you can approach the holiday season with a stronger sense of gratitude.
Offering alcohol-free alternatives at parties and gatherings can also ensure that everyone feels included and comfortable. Remember, there are countless opportunities to enjoy the holiday season while staying true to your sober life. Staying sober during the holiday season can be challenging, but with a little planning and support, it’s possible to enjoy the festivities while maintaining a sober life. One of the best ways to navigate this time of year is to plan sober holiday parties that offer alcohol-free options for guests. By providing non-alcoholic beverages and delicious mocktails, you can create a fun and inclusive atmosphere for everyone. If you do attend a party where drinks are served, prepare yourself for the event.
Create New Sober Traditions
And leaving prior to the peak of the party sidesteps a lot of pressure. Control over departure from parties and activities is key to maintaining sobriety. Alcohol has been the central focus of holiday celebrations since the medieval age – or before. The key lies in untangling past experiences and expectations from the festivities today. Create a new narrative that aligns with a commitment to sobriety. Consider creating a lineup of all the ones you like best, and watch a few every week leading up to the holidays.
When you take the opportunity to connect with others—to see, value and honor their experience—you exercise empathy. You exist outside of yourself, and you begin to notice all the blessings your life already contains. sober holidays And it doesn’t get more human, or more recovery, than that. Alcohol has been the central character in most of our cultural memories. Staying Present is about cherishing the company and enjoying the surroundings.