Incorporate mindfulness through practices like meditation, yoga, or simply taking a few moments of quiet reflection each day. Even when the holidays seem like an opportunity to take time away from your recovery journey, that’s probably when you need to put extra effort into it. Plus, there are a variety of ways you can enjoy the holidays even more when sober. To effectively deal with the holidays, you have to maintain your path and find joy in your sobriety. Keeping in touch with your support system throughout the holidays doesn’t just make for a merrier season. And it’s important to have someone to text or call if you find yourself struggling with alcohol cravings at a holiday event or in general.

Create Step-by-Step Actions for Handling Urges or Cravings

For many people, including those in recovery, the holidays stir up difficult https://ecosoberhouse.com/ memories. Feelings of loneliness can be triggering for people in recovery, even if they have a solid social support system. 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. Many of the biggest holidays in the U.S. — Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve — take place relatively close together, bringing people together often to celebrate. They may misunderstand you or forget that you don’t intend to drink alcohol.

Embracing Community: AA Fellowship Holiday Support

If the office New Year’s party is really all about drinking or other drug use, make a brief appearance or don’t attend. It’s unrealistic in all of these scenarios to say, “I can soldier through it.” That’s what Step One of the Twelve Steps teaches us, right? 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. Summer holidays are a great time to try new outside activities. Consider setting up outdoor games, such as badminton or cornhole.

• A strong support network is invaluable during the holidays.
• “Basically, I grew up around a bunch of alcoholics,” he said.
• One of the ways you can keep yourself on the right track is by forging or leaning on meaningful connections you have with loved ones in your life.
• When you trade in the late-night tipples for a good night’s sleep, you get to flirt with dawn.

Rediscover Drug-Free Holiday Joy

• 9 Many people in recovery find it useful to recruit a helper for moral support.
• People in recovery groups often pledge to accompany each other to parties or events.

Being a part of the bigger story is where we find purpose and hope which shifts our gaze away from the self-centered fear of our addiction. Everyone has a wish list for the holidays, but far too often that list becomes a set of expectations rather than wants. When we live in a state of expectation, we will almost always be disappointed.

Text a Recovery Expert

To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. Local and state resources for substance abuse and addiction can vary according to where you live. If you have had a slip, or a series of sober holidays slips, over the holidays, the most important thing you can do is talk to someone about it.

Illegal Drug Addiction

Include positive moments and personal growth observations to maintain motivation. Write about your experiences, challenges faced, and how you overcame them. Wake up early to practice in your room before the day’s activities begin. Engage with fellow participants to share experiences and tips. Check if your hotel offers fitness classes or has partnerships with local gyms. Stick to your routine as much as possible, but also be flexible when necessary.

On the Eighth Day of the Sober Holidays: Keep Alcohol-Free Drinks Handy

The choosing of a place to stay, the packing, the travelling from A to B, the pressure to have a good time, and, most significantly, the prevention of relapse. There are many sober ‘firsts’ in recovery – first sober Christmas, first sober wedding, first sober date – which we cautiously consider to ensure we have enough support. Holidays need to be treated with the same care as a break from everyday life isn’t a break from recovery.

Building Supportive Networks Tethered by the 12 Steps

Then you can break down those defensive walls and forgive other people, and you can approach the holiday season with a stronger sense of gratitude. Holidays can be a difficult time for people in recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). By embracing these sober-friendly activities, you’ll create a rich, memorable holiday experience that supports your sobriety goals while immersing yourself in the local culture and lifestyle. A positive mindset can help you navigate the holiday season with resilience and grace. Instead of viewing the holidays as a test, try seeing them as an opportunity to grow and heal. A sober Christmas can be a personal choice for individuals in recovery from addiction or those who prefer to maintain a substance-free lifestyle.

The impact of substance abuse on mental health

The shared experiences and mutual support create a robust network that sustains sobriety not Sober living house only through the holidays but also beyond, fostering an enduring dedication to a sober life. Understanding the 12 Steps of AA is pivotal in crafting a successful, sober holiday. These steps guide individuals in reshaping holiday traditions to align with sobriety goals by emphasizing personal accountability and spiritual growth.