Do something that is good for humanity and your recovery this season to avoid relapse. Take an honest look at upcoming holiday events and whether it’s healthy to attend. If you feel uncomfortable about a family dinner, that’s enough. The holidays are usually a fun, magical time, but for people in recovery, it can feel overwhelming. They may feel loaded with potential triggers and stress due to parties or family gatherings.

• The holidays are a great time to focus on your sobriety goals.
• In the United States, the Fourth of July is often a day of celebration, with fireworks, barbecues, and getting together with friends or family.
• Yet this isn’t just about millionaires – many of those who say they do not need WFP, like those the BBC spoke to, are simply on healthy pensions after years of working.
• But it can alienate people who are sober, and that sense of isolation can become another trigger.
• If you’ve checked in on your feelings and found that you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out for it.

Mental Health Services

Triggers can get in the way of staying sober during the holidays. It’s an unfortunate reality that many people find spending time with their family triggering. The holidays present an obligation to spend time with family that many choose not to avoid. While you may want to spend time with your family, it is reasonable https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to limit your exposure to triggering family members. It can be challenging to stay focused on your sobriety throughout the holiday season. Between parties, family gatherings, and tempting holiday treats, it is not easy to navigate this time of year without being tempted by old habits or relapsing into old patterns.

Have your support system on call

By taking care of yourself, you are better equipped to handle the pressures and challenges of the holiday season without turning to substances. Instead of turning to drugs or alcohol to numb your pain, you will be better prepared to tackle it head-on. Bringing a sober plus one to events can also be a helpful way to stay accountable and have someone who understands the challenges of staying sober during the holidays. Instead of going to your work holiday party or family’s home alone, bring a sober friend or family member who can provide support and encouragement. Moreover, the holidays can also bring up difficult emotions such as stress, loneliness, anxiety, and grief. These emotions can trigger the desire to turn to alcohol or drugs for temporary relief.

Trying to Stay Sober This Holiday Season? We’ve Got You Covered

For instance, you can plan on keeping your hands filled with drinks like soda, juice, or sparkling water, so that you aren’t constantly offered alcoholic beverages. The holidays are emotionally complex for most people, including people who don’t struggle with addiction. This is because there are usually many family engagements that bring together varied personality types and perhaps baggage from past disagreements and experiences.

Come up with a plan to protect your sobriety

Some standard excuses are that you have to get up early the next day, you can’t mix alcohol with your medication, or you have to pick your child up on the way home. Lastly, it’s important to be firm but compassionate sober holidays about your boundaries. Put your foot down regarding things you don’t want to do but be nice about. Letting your family know how much you appreciate their support can be fulfilling and encouraging.

Staying Sober During the Holidays with Free by the Sea

Also, put together strategies to prepare yourself emotionally and gather ideas for how to avoid family members who may be too triggering for you. The holidays can be a triggering and challenging time for sober alcoholics, particularly for those in early sobriety. There are a variety of reasons and this time of year can prove to be emotionally charged even for non-alcoholics. The holidays can be bittersweet, in that while they may bring joy and celebration, they can also be like putting “Miracle Grow” on family dysfunction and unhealthy dynamics.

How to Stay Sober During the Holidays

• Instead of relying on substances to numb difficult emotions, you can fully engage with your surroundings and loved ones.
• No matter where you go or who you surround yourself with, you’re virtually guaranteed to encounter temptations, triggers, and other challenges.
• The holidays can often disrupt our daily routines, but it’s important to try to stick to your regular routine as much as possible.
• If certain holiday traditions trigger you, it’s okay to change them.
• The holiday season can be a stressful time, so it’s important to take care of yourself.
• If you’ll be traveling out of town for the holidays, make plans to expand your support network in advance.

For example, if you want to entertain, consider a potluck meal. You can ask others to bring everything from appetizers to non-alcoholic drinks to paper goods. And when you take initiative over the planning, it’s easier to ensure the evening is both fun and alcohol-free. If you know other people in recovery, they may be particularly grateful that you organized something. Drinking triggers are unique to each individual and it can be hard to resist the urge to partake when they crop up. One thing that helps is thinking about the challenges of past holiday events so you can avoid the same pitfalls.