For many people, the holiday season is a joyful time of year filled with opportunities to connect and celebrate with family and friends. Holidays such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve present opportunity for reflection, spiritual renewal, gift-giving and family togetherness.
For many others, especially for folks in recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders, the holiday season can be fraught with profound stress related to strained relations with family. Furthermore, the reality of the season for many rarely lives up to the cultural expectation that this should be a season of joy.
In addition to tensions that may arise due to complex family dynamics, the increased presence of alcohol present triggers for use. This entry will highlight 12 tips or strategies that will help addicts and alcoholics in recovery stay sober during holiday season.
An important starting point in protecting your recovery during the holiday season is to recognize that you will need to be intentional and proactive about the choices you make. It is necessary to be honest with yourself about potential high risk events and your real feelings stirred up by the holiday season. This is a time to begin making a list and checking it twice about all the things you need to do to protect your recovery, the greatest gift of all.
A simple way to help protect your recovery during the holiday season is to connect more fully with your recovering community.
Keep it simple and make a meeting every day from November to January. If that isn’t feasible, examine your meeting making routine and make sure you are adequately supported. Making more meetings during stressful times is another time honored tradition.
It is ok to say no. It may be too triggering and perhaps not that much fun to be around a bunch of people drinking their holiday cheer. Especially in early recovery it is important to avoid activities that involve drinking. Learn how to say no. It’s ok to skip that holiday work party. It is ok to offer a thank you for the invitation and offer that you have another engagement to attend. If you can’t avoid a holiday party that involves alcohol, don’t drink what you don’t know, plan to leave early, and have plans to make a meeting after. If you are traveling for the holidays and staying at a hotel, call in advance to ask them to remove the mini-bar.
For many people in recovery, holiday activities involved drinking or drugging. Your recovery presents a wonderful opportunity to create new traditions. Invite some sober friends and have a game night or a movie marathon or a cookie baking or tree-trimming party.
Anticipate your triggers, whether they are difficult emotions, situations or events that may put your recovery at risk. Talk about your triggers with your sponsor, therapist or recovery coach and create a plan to deal with each one.
Focusing on others by being of service can help you cultivate more joy and gratitude. Donate your time at a food pantry, shelter or soup kitchen. Prepare a meal for an elderly neighbor and spend time with them. Being able to spread joy and happiness is one of the gifts of sobriety that will help you protect your recovery and appreciate the true meaning of the holiday season.
The holidays are a time when many overindulge in both healthy and unhealthy food. Too much sugar, carbs and fats are likely to taste good in the moment but leave you feeling bad afterwards.
Plan your food choices in advance to help you celebrate the season, not too feel unwell.
While all throughout the year, self-care should be priority, it becomes even more so during periods of stress. This is a time to not over-do, leaving you feeling depleted. Take time to meditate, pray, get a massage, take a yoga class or attend a spiritual retreat.
If ever there was a time to stay connected, the holiday season is it. It is an opportunity to both receive support and to be there for other people in recovery as well. Increase your meeting attendance, make program calls, book-end holiday events with calls to your sponsor or other friends in the rooms. If you are traveling to other cities find out where there are local meetings n advance.
When gift giving it may have been common for you to buy a favorite wine for friends, work colleagues or associates. Stepping into a liquor store or engaging in the process of purchasing alcohol is likely to be triggering for many folks. Instead consider alternate gifts, like gift cards or gift baskets. It’s ok to prioritize your recovery needs.
If you feel like you need more support during the holiday season, consider working with a Recovery Guide to help you navigate your way through.
Michael Herbert, The Recovery Guide, has more than 30 years of experience working closely with individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery issues. He is a seasoned Coach and can help you and your family establish long-term goals and access the tools you need for continued abstinence and recovery for the entire family. Get in touch with Michael today at 561-221-7677 to schedule an appointment.
