Ask a friend or sponsor to play the role of someone offering you a drink. Sober Holidays Tip #14 Bring recovery reading when you travel. Get ebook versions of The Big Book, The Recovery Book, and other recovery literature on your phone or ebook reader before you leave town. While discussing “me time”, we’d like to address self-care practices separately.
- Maintaining our connections to others is part of staying present and accountable for our recovery.
- Scheduling breaks or “time-outs” from social interactions can help reset emotional equilibrium, preserving mental well-being.
- Making it through the holidays without slipping back into destructive drug or drinking habits is possible.
- Most people with addiction expect their upside-down world to immediately turn right side up.
On the Ninth Day of the Sober Holidays: Stay Mindful of Stress
Whether you’re newly sober or years into recovery, we’re here to help you build a plan that works for the holidays and beyond. Contact us if you want help creating your sober strategy this season. Holidays often involve complex family dynamics, which can present challenges for those in recovery. Engaging family members in the recovery process can foster better support networks. Families should be encouraged to participate actively in discussions about sobriety goals to promote collective efforts to avoid relapse during gatherings. Staying connected with a support network is crucial for individuals in recovery.
Travel with a Sober Companion
We can help you get through the holidays while in recovery at Renaissance Recovery in Southern California. Whether it’s frying up latkes for Hanukkah, or crafting Christmas ornaments around the fireplace, there are many holiday traditions that don’t require a buzz. Consider playing board games, watching holiday movies, or taking a stroll to Sobriety gaze at the beautiful lights. The bottom line is that a sober holiday is much more achievable when the added stress is brought down to a minimum.
Benefits of Having Support at Parties
- Whether you need structure, connection, counseling, detox, or long-term treatment, help is available and accessible.
- The holiday season is great for reconnecting with old, supportive friends and recovery acquaintances.
It’s okay to acknowledge these feelings and prioritize your peace. For more strategies, explore resources on How to https://bengalengineering.in/what-does-wc-mean-on-oxford-houses/ avoid a relapse during stressful times. One of the most significant challenges is the increased alcohol consumption that accompanies holiday festivities.
Building New Holiday Traditions in Recovery
Engaging in activities that promote togetherness and gratitude can help fill the void that may be left by avoiding alcohol-related festivities 2. Holiday gatherings can bring up old conflicts, and unsupportive relatives might create uncomfortable situations, leading to feelings of judgment. Setting firm emotional boundaries is key to protecting your peace. We recognize that dealing with family can be tough, and we have resources dedicated to Family Support Addiction to help. Understanding these challenges helps you recognize that staying sober during the holidays is not about willpower; it’s about preparation, support, and intention.
Non-alcoholic options, wellness drinks, teas, and festive mocktails make it easier to stay aligned with your goals. Motivational interviewing (MI) is central to Cenikor’s person-centered, empowerment-based approach. It helps you reconnect with why recovery matters, which can immensely help while crafting ways to stay sober during the holidays. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) focuses on emotional balance, distress tolerance, and present-moment awareness, all of which are essential during the holidays.
- The holidays can be a fun and exciting time of year, but also a stressful and emotional time as well.
- Use the opportunity to engage deeper into your AA or recovery support group.
- The holidays bring a unique set of emotional challenges that can test your sobriety.
- 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.
Why Staying Sober During the Holidays Matters for Your Recovery
What’s most important in the event of a relapse is how you respond to it. 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. For many people, including those in recovery, the holidays stir up difficult memories. Maintaining sobriety during the holidays, and sticking to your treatment plan, is possible. Flexibility and resilience are vital to navigating unexpected situations while staying sober. A study on relapse prevention highlights that poor self-care is a common precursor to emotional relapse.
Enjoy the celebration
These self-care practices can also help you sober holidays center yourself when emotions run high. This is also a great time to incorporate new practices into your routine. Start the day with a walk, journaling your feelings, or dedicating time to hobbies that make you happy.
