Staying Sober During the Holidays: The Ultimate Guide
The holiday season is upon us, and it can be a stressful time for some. The holidays have a way of being the most wonderful time of the year, yet also being filled with plenty of temptations and triggers. Parties with family, food, travel, and shopping…it’s not easy to put your sobriety first among all the chaos. If you’re a recovering addict, it’s easy to feel lost amid the joyful commotion.
Many people resort to coping with the stress by relapsing with their drug of choice out of frustration or boredom. Others break bad habits, like exercising or self-care, when they know they need to be vigilant about maintenance. So how do you cultivate sobriety in your life when temptation is all around you? We’ll discuss a few ways you can stay sober during the holidays.
Have a Plan
The most significant element to maintaining your sobriety is having a plan. When you set realistic goals and expectations within your plan, you can be more aware of better ways to assess the situations and cope. Often stress gets the best of us when we do not have a plan set in place.
Instead, preparing yourself for conversations or problems that may arise will increase your chances of staying sober during the holidays. An example of this could be planning to cope with family or friends drinking at a holiday party. Instead of joining them, you could create an alcohol-free drink and encourage them to try your new creation.
Set Boundaries
Unfortunately, not everyone in recovery has a fantastic support group behind them cheering on their sobriety. Mingling with family and old friends can make the chances of relapse higher when you cannot set clear boundaries.
A few ways you can do this is to discuss with these people before the holiday event. This can look like asking them not to offer you a drink during the party or not discussing your past actions, which can trigger some. Let them know that you are setting these boundaries as a way to maintain your sobriety.
Speak to Your Sponsor or Support Person
The holiday season is often a stressful time, even for those not in recovery. Having a support person or sponsor to speak to is a great way to maintain sobriety. Since the holidays can be a lot on everyone’s plate, it’s best to ask your sponsor or support person for their undivided attention before you vent to them.
Embrace Your Sobriety
Recovery is a huge accomplishment that should be celebrated. By embracing your new way of life, you can create a more empowering mindset. In turn, this will increase your willpower to stay sober throughout the season. Being grateful for all aspects of your road to recovery can also help you overcome any obstacles you might face.
Gratitude will go a long way to helping you maintain your sobriety. If you feel upset or stressed out at any point, take a second to be grateful for how far you have come. It is much easier said than done, but a small phrase can change your mindset for the better. It can start with something small such as “I am grateful for this time of year” you can slowly work up to the larger aspects of your sobriety, such as “I am grateful for my health” or “I am grateful to be stronger than my addiction.”
Staying Sober During the Holidays: Conclusion
Staying sober during the holidays is possible, but it takes a lot of effort – getting through the season without relapsing requires preparation, willpower, the strength of character, and helping hands. If you are struggling with alcohol or drug addiction right now, know that better days are ahead of you. To get there, though, you have to commit to changing your behavior for the long term. The only thing more painful than staying sober through this holiday season is trying to do it on your own. Serenity Springs Recovery Center is here to help you. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and holistic mind, body, spirit approach.
