Maintaining Recovery during the Holiday Season

Crafting your holiday relapse prevention plan will help you anticipate your every move, so you can stay away from the substances that once caused you irreparable harm. After a loved one starts treatment, there can be relief and renewed hope, but expectations may need to be grounded as changes don’t happen overnight. All members of the family may have the same idealized wish to recover the trust and lives that existed prior to the escalation of addictive behaviors.

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Be prepared to address questions about your sobriety (remember, you can share as much or as little as you’d like). If you or a loved one are in need of help with addiction, contact us today. Our professional and friendly addiction specialists are able to answer your questions and get things moving in the right direction. Just because this year is tough doesn’t mean every year is going to be tough. Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts.

• Just like with any other disease, substance abuse does not take a vacation just because the calendar says so.
• Taking Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause breathing problems that can lead to coma and death.
• Assuming holidays or certain family traditions have to be the way they have always been, can derail success.

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However, a young person in early sobriety is particularly vulnerable because they haven’t yet developed confidence in their sober lifestyle. Once you get through the season, take some time to review which coping strategies worked well over the holidays and which didn’t. Make any adjustments needed and establish your strategies for the future to keep you on the path to recovery. Perhaps journal about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences so you can review them in planning ahead for the next year. One of the most effective ways to cope with holiday stress is planning ahead. Set aside dates for visiting family and friends, baking, shopping, and other holiday-related activities.

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Instead, reach out to him or her to see if there’s anything you can do to help the event go smoothly. If you do, be ready and willing to accept “No, thank you” as the answer. If you or a loved one is struggling with heroin addiction drugs or alcohol, call Recovery Centers of America at RECOVERY. Make a “Recovery Kit” – Contact numbers, sponsor check in, Big Book, affirmations, list of local AA/NA/SMART recovery, bring your own beverages, have an escape plan.

Recognizing Holiday Triggers

• The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also affected millions of people throughout the country, damaging mental health and causing isolation, financial strain and uncertainty.
• I’ve worked with many people in recovery who tell me that coworkers can look at them as if they have a third eye, or as if they have just sprouted wings, if they decline an alcoholic beverage.
• Moreover, maintaining a gratitude journal can celebrate progress in sobriety and reinforce a positive mindset throughout the holiday season.
• Start by selecting events that align with your sobriety goals, opting for gatherings that are less centered around alcohol.

By spending time together, you create an all-new family that is built on love and the principles of recovery. Some plan extra therapy sessions before the holidays to try to smooth things over in advance. Others spend time with their “recovery families” instead, and go to sober events. For example, most cities have holiday recovery-a-thons (24-hour recovery meeting events) for the exact reason that this is such a difficult time for people in recovery.

The social events of the holidays can be challenging in a number of ways for the individual who is new to reframing holidays in early recovery recovery. Alternatively, people recovering from addiction may glamourize past holidays they spent drinking or using drugs with buddies, leading to unintentional rationalizing or relapse. Family visits can also be a source of anxiety, whether you’re in recovery or not. During the holidays, families tend to gather together more often and you may see several relatives you don’t see often.

• Explore how to address alcohol & underage drinking; understand risks, prevention strategies, and support options.
• Because if there’s one thing more haunting than millions of addiction deaths, it’s knowing they’re preventable.
• Rather, there are plenty of opportunities to dedicate your time and talents.
• In this case, an effective solution would be to avoid such environments during the holidays.
• Opt for events that celebrate holiday traditions without an emphasis on drinking.
• Spend time with sober friends instead, or create a new tradition like volunteering at a soup kitchen.

Additionally, engaging in open conversations about personal triggers and coping strategies can help loved ones provide assistance when needed. By collectively navigating the challenges of the holiday season, individuals can celebrate their progress in recovery while reinforcing their commitment to sobriety. Increasing awareness of potential social or environmental triggers can help communication and planning. Loved ones in recovery learn that triggers are “people, places or things” that are linked https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to their patterns of use.

You may need to change some of your traditions, and emotions may run extra high. Remember that you are still building your coping tools and allow yourself some grace through this season. Ultimately, when you learn to overcome these challenges you will find freedom in recovery.

Remember you don’t have to have all the answers – just getting an idea of what you’ll do will allow you the freedom to make decisions on the fly. If you are trying to support a loved one who is struggling during the holidays, educate yourself about addiction and recovery. Become familiar with the challenges that arise to be able to better empathize and communicate with your loved one.

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Discreet, flexible, and 100% online—Workit 90 is a recovery program that fits your life, giving you the tools you need to cut back or quit drinking. Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider.