Holiday events involving alcohol can be highly stressful and upsetting for those in recovery, which makes having support from fellow members invaluable. Being connected with others in recovery before and during holidays can make a world of difference to one’s well-being.
Relapse triggers can take many forms, from smells or people to social pressures. Knowing a loved one’s triggers will be vital in staying sober during the holidays. Whatever happens, you should never let the holiday season delay treatment for your substance abuse program.
Holiday Season, A Perfect Time to Enter Substance Abuse Recovery?
Holidays can be an emotional time, evoking strong feelings such as loneliness and grief that can leave people vulnerable to substance use.
As it’s essential to sustaining sobriety, it’s essential to limit exposure to triggers and avoid high-risk situations. When attending events where alcohol will be served, bring along someone sober as a support system and devise a backup exit strategy in case an unexpected trigger presents itself.
Take Advantage of Extra Time Off for Recovery
Holidays can often bring with them excesses in alcohol and drugs, strain on family relationships, and conflict between family members. Depression can often accompany these occasions, and people seek comfort from addictive substances during this season.
If you’re living with both mental illness and substance use disorder simultaneously, entering Substance Abuse Recovery during this season can provide a solution that breaks this cycle and allows you to focus on recovery before beginning anew in January.
Discount Offers During Holiday Season
This may especially benefit individuals working in service industries like retail or hospitality, construction, outdoor workers, or any field that typically experiences less activity around this period.
Surround Yourself with Family Support
Although the holidays can be challenging for those in recovery, they’re also an invaluable chance to surround yourself with love and support. Many find that family and friends are more understanding when entering substance abuse recovery during this festive period as it symbolizes taking steps toward transformational growth that fit with its spirit.
Triggers often arise during the holidays, including seeing loved ones using drugs or alcohol, negative emotions, and high expectations – all factors which could contribute to drug and alcohol relapse. By seeking drug or alcohol addiction treatment sooner rather than later, individuals can avoid these risky situations and begin the new year without substance abuse issues.
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You Will Be Solely Focused on Self-Recovery Program
Individuals who enter substance abuse recovery before the holidays can focus solely on their recovery journey without being distracted by holiday temptations or stresses. Furthermore, they will have access to all amenities and resources offered by their substance abuse recovery which will further help them in many ways. Those amenities may include therapeutic services, psychoeducational programs that enhance coping skills, relapse prevention strategies, and holistic approaches.
Though entering substance abuse recovery may make holiday traditions and celebrations harder for loved ones to enjoy, they should remember that seeking recovery is ultimately the best path forward for everyone involved. Over time, they will appreciate a different holiday experience that doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol.
Start the New Year with a Fresh Mindset
The holidays offer an ideal time of reflection and change; whether it’s depression, anxiety, or some other mental health issue you are dealing with, entering substance abuse recovery could be the ideal solution. It offers immediate help and allows you to discover what life would be like without these issues and set yourself up for a successful recovery in years to come.
Addiction-stricken individuals can find the holidays difficult and stressful, which is why it is crucial to seek treatment programs that provide the support you need. Substance abuse recovery can provide a place where trigger situations can be avoided while learning healthy ways of handling challenges head-on.
How To Support Someone's Recovery During Holidays?
Joining a sober community or engaging in substance-free social activities may help those in recovery to develop meaningful connections. Participation may provide a sense of belonging and support from peers who understand your struggles; furthering commitment to living soberly.
Avoid Holiday Triggers
Strong support networks of sober friends and family can help people navigate holiday triggers successfully, but for those newer to recovery, the holidays may pose increased temptations and emotional strain. Therefore, entering substance abuse recovery before beginning their holiday journey may provide invaluable insight into triggers as well as ways to overcome them more successfully.
Prioritize alcohol-free events to minimize temptation and lower the risk of relapse. If attending potentially triggering events is essential to your recovery journey, prepare ahead by developing an exit strategy and anticipating potential triggers, such as dinner with an outspoken uncle who views recovery as for wimps.
Create a Supportive and Stress-Free Holiday Environment
Setting boundaries together can also help. For instance, if they tell you they will not attend a particular family gathering because it causes too much stress or triggers their addiction, they respect their decision and find alternative ways of celebrating the holidays together.
Encourage them to attend support group meetings during the holidays to keep themselves accountable and provide them with a sense of community. It can also serve as an effective space to vent, relax, and celebrate recovery – especially helpful if attending before or after attending holiday events.
Respect Their Boundaries During Holiday Gatherings
People in recovery should ensure their routines during the holidays remain intact. It’s also essential for them to prioritize self-care by giving themselves time for rest. Some families take advantage of family holiday gatherings as an opportunity to be verbally abusive, threatening, and intimidating – which can be an immense trigger that puts their sobriety at risk.
If someone in recovery suffers from PTSD or trauma related to past relationships with certain family members, it would be wiser to avoid family holiday celebrations altogether.
Encourage Healthy Alternatives to Holiday Drinking
Encourage those in recovery to stick with their regimen and not let the holidays derail them from meeting their daily obligations – such as attending therapy or extra recovery meetings, calling their sponsor, or engaging in activities that support sobriety and emotional health.
Remind them there are healthy and enjoyable alternatives to holiday drinking, such as celebrating with sober friends instead of family, attending events like movie premieres, or volunteering at soup kitchens. This can help take their minds off the resentment or self-pity that can arise during this season associated with alcohol.
Offer Emotional Support Without Pressuring Them
Addiction can have devastating repercussions for individuals emotionally, which leaves them feeling guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. So, learning healthier coping techniques in recovery can provide invaluable relief and lead toward healing and wellness.
Though emotional support is vital, too much pressure could backfire on those undergoing recovery. They require time and space to form meaningful, trustworthy relationships that encourage trust.
Help Them Avoid Holiday Triggers for Relapse
People in recovery must maintain their recovery rituals and self-care during the holiday season, whether this means attending certain parties, forgoing certain family traditions, attending additional meetings or therapy sessions, scheduling more phone calls with sober friends, reading recovery literature, meditating, or exercising, as these will all help to keep them grounded and focused.
Holidays can bring an immense amount of stress and bring up difficult emotions such as anxiety, depression, or anger that, if left unchecked, could lead to relapse. Therefore, we must support them by helping identify triggers and plan for potential relapse situations.
Plan Sober-Friendly Holiday Activities Together
Surrounded by people who understand your sobriety can help strengthen it during this difficult season. Planning sober-friendly activities to foster interaction and enjoyment without alcohol or drugs may also prove useful.
Plan a holiday movie marathon together and watch classic or new releases that have become household names. Or make it part of your tradition to hang ornaments on the tree together.
Conclusion
While the holidays can be filled with triggers and challenges for those in recovery, they also offer a unique opportunity to focus on sobriety and healing. Ultimately, prioritizing one’s well-being and recovery during the holidays is the best gift anyone can give themselves or their loved ones.
Empower Your Health Journey with Dragonfly Medical
At Dragonfly Medical, we’re committed to providing comprehensive support through our diverse range of services. Whether you need personalized care through our Clinical Services, compassionate assistance from our Nursing team, guidance from those who have walked in your shoes via our Peer Recovery program, or the collective strength in our Group Support sessions, we are here for you.
Additionally, our Telehealth Info services ensure you can access expert care and advice from the comfort of your home. Reach out today and let DragonFly Medical be your partner in achieving optimal health and well-being.