For many people, the holiday season is a time to relax and let loose. There’s an increased focus on family, friends, and festive activities, all of which can trigger memories of past drinking or drug use. Add to that the pressure of gift-giving and attending parties, and it’s no wonder that so many people struggle to stay sober during the holidays.
Five Practices for Staying Sober During the Holidays
Relax your standards and give yourself a break from your usual routine. Remember that sobriety is a journey, not a destination. There will be good and bad days – accept them as part of the process. And always remember that help is available if you need it. The temptation to drink beer sober holidays at BBQs and parties can be strong, and the fireworks can trigger anxiety or flashbacks for those who have experienced trauma. Regardless of the level of sobriety you’re aiming for, the important thing is that you’re making a conscious choice to be mindful of your substance use.
Recovery Advocacy
If you are dreading the upcoming holiday or holiday season, being proactive can help. In the United States, the Fourth of July is often a day of celebration, with fireworks, barbecues, and getting together with friends or family. The holidays aren’t just about celebrating — they’re also often about giving gifts. Financial strain is a common stressor during the holidays. Millions of Americans live with some form of drug or alcohol addiction, and many are in recovery.
Follow these tips for how to stay sober during the holidays, according to experts
The stress of finding the perfect gift, or budgeting for gifts, can be a trigger for people in recovery, as stress in general is a common relapse trigger. Maintaining sobriety during the holidays, and sticking to your treatment plan, is possible. Remember, the disease of addiction is as powerful the day after a holiday https://ecosoberhouse.com/ as it is the day of and the day before. As we learn during addiction rehab and in the meeting rooms, recovery is a one-day-at-a-time endeavor, no matter the season. Try some of these festive holiday activities that don’t involve alcohol. This is for someone who can abstain from drinking while they go through treatment.
Navigating Social Gatherings
It’s only a sip, and it doesn’t mean you’ve relapsed—or that you should entertain the thought of relapsing now. If you come prepared to protect your sobriety, you should be able to outmaneuver addiction and avoid any potential relapses. The demands of the season can put a strain on your wallet. From groceries for entertaining to gifts for family and friends.
Increased pressure to drink
Maybe you need a few minutes to meditate before going to bed. On the other hand, identifying your triggers and strategies to manage them puts that power back in your hands. Being aware of your triggers, and making a plan to combat or respond to urges in the moment, can help you prepare to face these challenges head-on. All-inclusive means food, drinks, activities and entertainment are included in the cost of your trip. On our Sober Village there are 5 scheduled meetings each day.
The final summer holiday ended on a somber note as preliminary data shows that law enforcement investigated 10 fatalities over the Labor Day holiday period, VSP said. During the event, attendees could enjoy free food, music, yard games, face painting, and a petting zoo. The picnic is an example of the outreach The Lighthouse does, alongside various other events. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) – The Lighthouse Community Center held a free sober picnic for the community to celebrate Labor Day.
Additionally, staying connected with sober friends and family members can provide much-needed support and understanding. They can serve as a source of encouragement and help you stay on track with your sobriety goals. If you’re living with active addiction, do not discount the extra stress the holidays bring. For the addicted person and their family, more stress means more vulnerability. After all, the holidays can kick off a perfect storm of family and money stress.
- Instead, talk it out with your sponsor or sober friends.
- On top of that, you can’t attend your home group meeting, and you haven’t heard from your sponsor in two days.
- Maybe this is the year for some new holiday traditions.
- Staying sober from drugs and alcohol during the holidays, for some, is only half the battle for staying grounded and secure in recovery.
- Duncan Weigand joined WSLS 10’s digital team in June 2024, weeks after graduating from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s in communication studying multimedia journalism and a cognate in marketing.
- Stay connected to recovery, even if it’s less than normal.
The Most Common Mental Health Disorders
For some people in recovery, the holidays can be tough. But you can make it to January with your sobriety intact. You don’t have to let unfulfilled expectations, stressful family dynamics, or crazy in-laws threaten your recovery. CATCH Recovery has curated a list of recommended sober holidays for people in recovery so they can be guided and helped to find the right sober holiday for them. Each holiday season, millions of Americans successfully maintain their sobriety by having a plan in place to avoid and manage triggers. Share with your family and friends so they can help and support your recovery.
As long as the trip is paid off 90 days before your departure, you can pay at whatever pace you are comfortable with. Flights, transfers &/or gratuities are not included, however. When you take the opportunity to connect with others—to see, value and honor their experience—you exercise empathy. You exist outside of yourself, and you begin to notice all the blessings your life already contains. And it doesn’t get more human, or more recovery, than that.