I was young and in college, so I went home for the holidays. I chose to spend the time with sober friends, and this helped me stay sober. I went to a lot of meetings and stuck close to those friends in sobriety. Maintaining a consistent recovery routine is essential, but the busy holiday season can make this difficult. Travel plans, social obligations, and packed schedules can interfere with your ability to attend therapy sessions, recovery meetings, or engage in self-care practices.
Disruption of Routine
But these celebrations also often include drinking, making them sometimes difficult to enjoy for people in recovery. If you’re sober, this can feel isolating and may bring up feelings of stress, frustration, and sadness. Staying sober during the holidays is entirely possible with the right preparation, mindset, and support. By implementing these strategies, you can not only survive the holiday season but thrive in it, sober holidays creating meaningful experiences and memories. Remember, you don’t have to do this alone – Cedar Recovery is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us if you need guidance or a little extra support.
Teen & Young Adult Treatment Tracks
Winter darkness and drabness can be psychologically (and physiologically) depressing. Try downloading one of these five mindfulness apps, or simply try meditating for at least five minutes per day. When stress comes knocking you may find it much easier to separate yourself from your thoughts, and not react. Mindfulness has become a widely used coping mechanism and is a great recovery skill in general. Some standard excuses are that you have to get up early the next day, you can’t mix alcohol with your medication, or you have to pick your child up on the way home. Quitting alcohol completely can be a challenge, but there are more ways to do it than ever before.
- The holiday season is just one small part of your journey – there is so much more ahead.
- Making it through the holidays without slipping back into destructive drug or drinking habits is possible.
- Gratitude shifts your focus from what you’ve lost to what you’ve gained, fostering a positive mindset.
- The holidays often involve alcohol-centric gatherings, family dynamics, and increased social obligations, which can be daunting.
Learn About Addiction
Here is our guide to giving up (or cutting back) on alcohol. This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs. Holiday stress can accelerate this progression, making awareness and early intervention necessary. Reflect on your thoughts and behaviors daily to catch early Sobriety warning signs before they escalate. Calling the number is free and confidential, but treatment services may involve costs depending on your insurance coverage and the level of care required.
New Year’s Resolutions: Why they fail, and tips to ensure success
- The benefits of treatment during the holidays are significant.
- This means avoiding places or situations where you might be tempted to use drugs or alcohol.
- 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.
- This pressure can feel isolating and create moments of doubt, especially when you’re navigating your recovery in social settings.
- Sober Holidays Tip #12 Don’t romance the drink or drug.
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. It’s okay to put your recovery first, stay a little vague and take care https://paska-aceh.or.id/2023/11/27/access-to-recovery-atr-in-massachusetts-financial-2/ of yourself. Look to the people you trust who will stand by your recovery program.