Always consult a qualified health or mental health professional with any questions or concerns about your mental health. Here are some of the tools that aided me during my first few holidays in sobriety. Statistically, Massachusetts has one https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/tips-to-get-started-on-the-road-to-recovery/ of the nation’s lowest rates of under-21 alcohol-related drinking deaths. Roughly 21% of adults 18 and over in the state drink at least once per month. Annually, there are more than 2,700 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use.
- You may not even remember past Decembers without memories swirling in snow and liquor.
- Do your Christmas shopping over several days so you’re not rushing around at the last-minute.
- Turning to 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous can be remarkably beneficial throughout the holiday season.
- Whether it’s frying up latkes for Hanukkah, or crafting Christmas ornaments around the fireplace, there are many time-honored holiday traditions that don’t require a buzz.
Everyone is running on empty, and the annual fight is just waiting to happen. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Most folks will accept your decision without any pushback, says Dr. Feinblatt. “If you do run up into somebody who starts to give you a little bit of grief, that’s really more about them than it is about you,” she says. Additionally, don’t forget your coping skills and plan your exit before you arrive if things begin to go sideways. Loved ones can create a safe and comforting environment to talk about your struggles.
Celebrating your Sobriety!
Or maybe you can’t get home for the holidays this year, and you’re not sure who you’ll spend Christmas with. Many people feel their emotions more profoundly during this season—both sober holidays the good emotions and the not-so-good. For many of us, the holidays are a season of peace and joy, where we decorate our memories with calm and happy moments.
- Have your sponsor on your speed-dial so you can give them a call when faced with cravings.
- Drunk driving crashes are completely preventable, yet they can cause physical, emotional and financial consequences that last for years.
- We offer long-term residential addiction treatment for men and women struggling with drug & alcohol addiction.
- We do not receive any compensation or commission for referrals to other treatment facilities.
Drinking, or using drugs, can be a pastime that’s taken for granted among friends and family. But it can alienate people who are sober, and that sense of isolation can become another trigger. 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. There are a million different ways to give back, pay it forward and be of service, and each opportunity guides you further away from resentment, self-pity and fear. While some people experience an uptick in social engagements around the holidays, others may feel especially isolated.
Double up on meetings.
So why put yourself in the position of having to “power through” an obstacle course of relapse triggers? Staying sober and safeguarding your recovery must always come first. On top of that, you can’t attend your home group meeting, and you haven’t heard from your sponsor in two days. Here are seven tried-and-true tips and strategies that will prepare you for the holidays, help you avoid relapse and protect you from any uncomfortable situations.
- It’s fine to simply say, “I’m not drinking tonight.” Who knows — maybe you’ll inspire someone or help them feel less alone.
- Here are some relapse prevention tips and self-care ideas for the holiday season, or any time.
- Much of the temptation to drink or use drugs arises because of anxiety, depression and feeling overwhelmed during the holidays.
- However, the season does present unique challenges for your mental health.
Christmas is a joyous season marked by gatherings with loved ones, but it frequently features a profusion of alcoholic beverages at parties and family get-togethers. The presence of alcohol in abundance can create a strong temptation that challenges one’s commitment to sobriety. Sober Holidays Tip #17 Remember that being in recovery doesn’t mean instant heaven or a perfect life. Coming to grips with the idea that sobriety is not instant heaven is an important step in recovery. Most people with addiction expect their upside-down world to immediately turn right side up. If you’ve been misusing alcohol or drugs for a while, your brain may need several months or even longer to set itself right.
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Does three hours with your mother leave you craving a drink? Get quiet, ask your Higher Power for some guidance on the perfect time limit. No one needs to know the real reason you’re leaving early.
Give yourself props every time you make an outreach call, head to a meeting, read recovery literature, say a slogan and rest. Her mother-in-law makes hateful comments in Julie’s direction regarding everything from her parenting to her weight. Julie is often criticized for her husband’s mistakes within his family.
For example, you may feel isolated if your social calendar isn’t full or if friends and family members are far away. You might also experience increased stress due to work or social obligations. Celebrations throughout November, December, and even into January offer a myriad of opportunities to be around alcohol.
- You don’t want to start thinking about your drinking or using days.
- Look to the people you trust who will stand by your recovery program.
- It’s so easy to just give in and tell yourself that you deserve that one drink, but it may also be the gateway to more bad drinking decisions.
- Practice this beforehand, so it’s second nature by the time you get there.
- Or, if you typically spend the holidays with family members who are still using, consider spending time with sober friends instead.