Schedule coffee with a recovery friend or make a counseling appointment the day after the holiday. As with depression, anxiety is linked to addiction, making feelings of anxiety triggering for many people in recovery. If you’re sober, this can feel isolating and may bring up feelings of stress, frustration, and sadness. Sarah Rollins, a licensed social worker, said that staying sober during the holidays can be difficult for a few reasons.
Stock up on alcohol-free drinks
When you think of your past most magical holidays, I’m willing to bet most of them are from your childhood. And guess what – none of those involved a drop of alcohol! With all the time you’ve freed up by not drinking, plan some activities that reconnect you back to what makes the holidays feel special. Although these tips can be helpful, family can sometimes be the biggest challenge when staying sober during the holidays.
Avoid Risky Situations
If you’re living with active addiction, do not discount the extra stress the holidays bring. For the addicted person and their family, more stress means more vulnerability. After all, the holidays tips to stay sober can kick off a perfect storm of family and money stress. If you feel scared or unsafe in your own home, reach out for help.
- In the United States, the Fourth of July is often a day of celebration, with fireworks, barbecues, and getting together with friends or family.
- Remember, the disease of addiction is as powerful the day after a holiday as it is the day of and the day before.
- Lastly, many people face increased loneliness during the holidays despite the festive atmosphere.
- One of the best strategies for preventing a relapse is to identify your triggers and come up with strategies for either managing or avoiding those personal triggers when possible.
Bring a Nonalcoholic Beverage to Share
Family members https://ecosoberhouse.com/ expect holiday perfection, and they often demand every ounce of your time and energy—and patience. The family menu is a constant carb-load, and traveling puts a strain on your wallet. Packed airports, tight schedules, liquid lunch for Aunt Sally. Everyone is running on empty, and the annual fight is just waiting to happen.
We’ve come up with 12 practical tips to help you maintain your sobriety throughout season. The holidays should be a festive and happy occasion, but they also pose significant challenges. The winter season may enhance strained relationships and increase drug and alcohol temptations. This article discusses the challenges of staying sober during the holidays and seven actionable tips to prevent relapse.
- Summer holidays are a great time to try new outside activities.
- Trying unfamiliar activities may require the family to step outside their comfort zone, but they’re a great way to create new traditions.
- And, bring the address of the nearest AA meeting, just in case.
- Still, it never hurts to jot down a few more polite responses in your playbook.
Though sobriety is on the rise among Gen Zers, the holidays can be a minefield of temptation, especially when it seems like everyone around you is drinking. Remember, the disease of addiction is as powerful the day after a holiday as it is the day of and the day before. As we learn during addiction rehab and in the meeting rooms, recovery is a one-day-at-a-time endeavor, no matter the season. If you come prepared to protect your sobriety, you should be able to outmaneuver addiction and avoid any potential relapses.
If you are going home, you can try to avoid seeing friends who you used to drink or use drugs with. Make sure you are always placing yourself in the safest and most comfortable situations possible. There may be a community in your neighborhood that is celebrating without alcohol. You can check out different groups on meetup.com or you can search for sober meetup groups. You can also celebrate with mutual support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Even with the best communication, setting boundaries with family can still be challenging. But it’s important to let them know what you need to feel comfortable during the holidays. Ioana has a Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and has been a freelance writer for over ten years.
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