It’s okay to do something different, to change locations, to change who you celebrate with or the amount of time you spend at a specific event. Consider celebrating a difficult holiday by marking something off your “bucket list,” doing some needed self-care or volunteering to help others. Medications are available to reduce cravings, ease symptoms of withdrawal, and restore balance to the parts of the brain affected by prolonged use and addiction.
The end-of-year holidays can be a challenge for those in addiction recovery.
Getting through the end-of-year holidays while maintaining recovery, especially for people newer to this life-changing process, is an important accomplishment—one worthy of celebration in its own right. This may be true even if you are surrounded by friends, neighbors, coworkers, or other people. These feelings of sadness and isolation can be purely emotional and not related to whether or not you are actually alone. Thankfully I was in a good place mentally, which allowed me to stay calm and avoid getting angry with her or screaming at her that I deserved to come home. At the time, I didn’t deserve anything except for another sober day.
Ask about substances ahead of time.
According to recent data, approximately 21 million American adults are in recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction (SAMHSA, 2021). Furthermore, there is an estimated 1,438,253 people in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA; a support group for those who desire to stop drinking) in the United States (AA, General Service Office, 2020). These data suggest that most people know someone who is abstaining from alcohol and other drugs. In addition, chemical addiction is more prevalent than many may think.
How Many People Are in Recovery?
After individuals spend some time identifying potential relapse triggers, they must also identify effective ways to manage those triggers. Successful coping mechanisms are different for everyone as well as different for each trigger. For example, some individuals may not feel equipped to be in environments with substance use. In this case, an effective solution would be to avoid such environments during the holidays. If another trigger is family conflict, then if and when conflict arises, an individual can rely on mindfulness techniques to work through it.
It could have been when your binge drinking nearly killed you. I have always taught the clients I work with that their addiction will take them farther than they want to go, make them do things they would never do, and become the person they never wanted to be. As someone who has been in recovery for nearly 30 years, I have discovered that there will be days when things do not go as planned.
Our mission is to help people respond effectively to substance use and related problems. It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.
Tips for Celebrating the Holidays with Recovering Family Members and Friends
I felt sorry for myself and isolated myself completely for a couple of days. And thankfully, they went the extra mile to reach out to me. If you need assistance booking, we’ll be happy to help — our support team is available 7 days a week. We’re in network with most major insurances – accepting 585+ insurance plans, covering 190 million people nationwide. • If you’ll be seeing relatives who don’t know your family member has just completed treatment, prepare beforehand as to who will communicate the information in a way your family member is comfortable. 50 hours of training on a variety of topics and 500 hours of work experience in peer recovery, paid or unpaid.
- You can reach to them in a way that lets them know you trust them with their own recovery but that you are there for them if needed.
- Fortunately, many in early recovery do well during the holidays.
- For instance, an individual in early recovery may request that their family refrains from alcohol or other substance use during holiday gatherings.
- For individuals in recovery, it is not enough to enter the holiday season without having any preparations in place for staying sober.
Many OASAS providers offer expanded services that build on traditional prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. Locally-based services address the needs of specific counties https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and regions and offer additional support to individuals, families, and communities, affected by addiction. Outpatient rehabs can also provide 90-day substance misuse programs.
Dec A Framework for Staying Sober Through the Holidays in Early Recovery
Even if being without your family is a choice made for your well-being, spending the holidays without family can still be difficult. Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice. If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider. Any support you’ve got in place comes in very handy this time of year.
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- While most of the world is focused on holiday cheer, addicts in recovery are often worried about potential unresolved family conflicts, relapse triggers, and spending time away from their primary support systems.
- Here are some general strategies for reframing holidays and creating successful sober celebrations.
- Peer Engagement Specialists and Family Navigators have lived experience and expertise to guide individuals/families through difficult situations and help to initiative the healing process.
- Part of maintaining an active and engaged sober lifestyle involves change.
- By utilizing a healthy framework for staying sober, individuals can learn to enjoy the holidays while keeping their recovery as the highest priority in their life.
- When people notice your sobriety, they will probably comment on it or ask questions, so it is important to decide what you will say ahead of time.
Finally, if you’re having a tough time, reach out to someone you trust and let them know how you feel. I promise you are not the only one feeling down or unhappy around the holidays. Together, you can come up with a plan for what you’re going to do to make the holiday season a little bit better. Follow that plan and remember that the best gift you can give yourself this holiday season reframing holidays in early recovery is another day sober. Crafting your holiday relapse prevention plan will help you anticipate your every move, so you can stay away from the substances that once caused you irreparable harm. A 90-day inpatient residential rehab program may benefit individuals who have a severe addiction, co-occurring mental or physical health issues, or who do not have a stable home environment.