How to Stay Sober Over the Holidays Page 1 of 0

That way, you can more easily control when you want to depart from a situation that’s becoming uncomfortable for you. Create an exit plan for when you need to leave an event. If it all gets to be too much, have an exit strategy in place so you can leave quickly.

Meetings are scheduled every hour on the hour. Use phone meetings if attending face-to-face isn’t a possibility. Tell family you’re listening to a game or podcast. Visit Al-Anon’s holiday link for details on the Al-Anon phone bridge. If those thoughts begin to creep in—those rationalizations about your eminent capability to now handle your liquor—shut them down immediately.

Plan Ahead

Whatever you do, don’t continue to use alcohol or drugs. A single relapse doesn’t have to result in a renewed pattern of abuse. Prop yourself up by re-embracing your strategies to cope with your triggers to use. Ask a family member or friend to attend functions or events with you as your sober buddy.

You might feel pressured to attend events that you know are going to be the worst for you. In the company of trusted loved ones who support your recovery, it is much easier to maintain it. This season is often one of excess, and you might not feel comfortable or safe to disclose why you are not participating. As fun and joyous as the holidays can be, they often commence a challenging time for early in their recovery journey. With all the holiday activities, it is easy to get carried away and find yourself in uncomfortable, difficult situations that test your sobriety.

I’m In Recovery

If he arrives on Christmas Day and stays a week, you can arrive a couple of days before Christmas, help your hosts prepare, enjoy a quiet Christmas Eve, and leave the next day. Getting sober doesn’t mean life is instantly perfect. Other people in your life probably sober holidays haven’t changed, and many of the conflicts that crop up at family reunions will doubtless crop up again. Accept it, roll with the punches, and rein in the urge to manipulate everything and everyone. It will be enough for you to take care of and control yourself.

In general, prioritizing recovery requires a great deal of energy and commitment. Traumatic experiences like the death of a loved one, abuse, or other negative experiences with the holidays. Being surrounded by so many triggers can make staying sober during the holidays hard, especially during the early stages of recovery. 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.

How mental health can impact your sobriety

The most important of these is an escape plan. Always have a way to leave, and don’t be afraid to use it. If you feel triggered by the thought of being https://ecosoberhouse.com/ around alcohol or drugs during a holiday event, you have every right to leave. If you relapse, seek out your support resources as soon as possible.

• Al-Anon, for instance, offers meetings every hour on the hour over the phone on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• In that time, Julie’s brother-in-law, who always arrives under the influence of drugs, drinks too much and starts arguments.
• Even if your addiction involves illicit or prescription drugs, alcohol is decidedly off the menu as someone with one substance use disorder is susceptible to developing another.
• This will give you a better idea of what you can or can’t have.
• When you can take some time to yourself, take stock of your triggers.
• You should always keep this risk in mind by having a reliable DWI attorney’s contact on speed dial.

Most events have several types of drinks that you will be consistently offered so be prepared. You can communicate with the host prior to the party to know more about what to expect and create a plan using that information. If you or a loved one are struggling with sobriety, help is a phone call away. Comprehensive Wellness Centers is one of the premier alcohol rehabs in south Florida.