Tips for Staying Sober During the Holidays

If you are in recovery, especially if you’re newly sober, this might be difficult to be around. In the United States, the Fourth of July is often a day of celebration, with fireworks, barbecues, and getting together with friends or family. Some people sober holidays drink or use drugs when they’re lonely or sad.

Difficult Memories

And if you do not have means of transportation, make sure to have a backup plan. Remember, urges will pass and this time of year will pass. The urge is like a wave that peaks in intensity but will pass. Afterward, you will feel one step freer from the destructive patterns that have dragged you down in the past.

Recovery Advocacy

• Give yourself a break by letting go of the need to meet the expectations of others.
• Lastly, many people face increased loneliness during the holidays despite the festive atmosphere.
• If you are in recovery, especially if you’re newly sober, this might be difficult to be around.
• Engaging in activities that bring you joy and nourish your mind, body, and soul can help you find alternative sources of holiday cheer.

It’s important to have open and honest communication to make this season enjoyable and safe. At https://ecosoberhouse.com/ family gatherings and social events, tote around your favorite non-alcoholic drink. People won’t feel so inclined to offer you a drink, and they won’t get the chance to pester you about your sobriety. If you want to stay sober during the holidays, look for every opportunity to be of service. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter, reach out to a newcomer at a meeting, spend time with an elderly loved one or neighbor.

Seek extra support when you experience extra stress

If you are facing financial difficulties, discuss sharing experiences instead of gifts. Therefore, doing alcohol-free activities regularly increases the chances of relapse prevention. Your holiday options may include board games, outdoor family trips, and movie nights with holiday themes. There are plenty of sober holiday traditions that you and your loved ones can create together to strengthen your recovery. Preparation is a key strategy for relapse prevention. Instead of dreading the onset of a holiday, spend the time planning, thinking through possible outcomes, and what to do in response.

• The holiday season is a time of festivities, joy, and get-togethers.
• Ignoring triggers leaves you more susceptible to their influence in recovery, and allows them to maintain power over you.
• No one needs to know the real reason you’re leaving early.
• Remember, the disease of addiction is as powerful the day after a holiday as it is the day of and the day before.
• Celebrate the holiday season and the fullness of your sober life by taking time for yourself.

Set Boundaries

All these things can be part of a healthy bedtime routine. Take the time to connect with a mentor or recovery coach. Or you can connect with a trusted friend or family member who has supported you throughout your recovery journey. If you are dreading the upcoming holiday or holiday season, being proactive can help. If someone pushes your boundaries, don’t feel bad about stepping away or leaving the situation altogether. Whether it’s no alcohol around you, needing to leave an event early, or avoiding specific topics of conversation, be specific and clear.

• If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we can help.
• Take a breather from the party and make an outreach call during the event.
• If you have had one slip, or especially if you’ve had multiple slips, it’s important to recognize not only that this happened, but that you don’t have to face it alone.
• They can act as a sober buddy and help you stay focused on your recovery goals during holiday gatherings.
• Living with addiction takes the strength of a superhero, regardless of if you are the addict or the loved one.
• You can ask others to bring everything from appetizers to non-alcoholic drinks to paper goods.
• Additionally, holidays disrupt the day-to-day routine.

Family and Children’s Programs

That can lead to preoccupation and obsession, and then to cravings. Keep your focus on your life right now, your life in recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and other 12-step recovery groups put extra meetings into place either in person or over the phone during the holidays. Al-Anon, for instance, offers meetings every hour on the hour over the phone on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. To increase the chances of success at sobriety, ask your friends and family to share any organizational responsibilities you may have.

Identify And Avoid Personal Triggers

Making it through the holidays without slipping back into destructive drug or drinking habits is possible. Thanksgiving is known for being a holiday that features a lot of food, as well as drinking for those who don’t abstain from alcohol. If you’re new to sobriety, read more about how to stay sober for the Fourth of July. Many of the biggest holidays in the U.S. — Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve — take place relatively close together, bringing people together often to celebrate. Maintaining sobriety during the holidays, and sticking to your treatment plan, is possible. Millions of Americans live with some form of drug or alcohol addiction, and many are in recovery.