Practical tips for staying sober during the holidays

Remember, the goal is to enjoy the meal and the company, not the alcohol. By focusing on these aspects, you can fully participate in the holiday dining experience while maintaining your sobriety. Good nutrition plays a vital role in supporting sobriety. A healthy breakfast helps jumpstart your metabolism, which can help reduce cravings and support your recovery. This is especially important during the holidays when stress and temptation may be higher.

If you have had a slip, or a series of slips, over the holidays, the most important thing you can do is talk to someone about it. Have a bedtime routine that allows you enough time to process what happened during the day. Maybe you need a few minutes to meditate before going to bed. Writing down your plans ahead of time can give you a roadmap for what to do when and if you encounter specific https://www.dienchan.academy/cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-chs-causes-7/ situations. With treatment, people learn how to manage co-occurring disorders without the use of addictive substances. Sober Holidays Tip #14 Bring recovery reading when you travel.

Practice Self-Care

If you are in recovery, especially if you’re newly sober, this might be difficult to be around. People in early recovery who have spent a lot of time in treatment recently may be especially burdened by financial issues this time of year, causing added stress. The holidays aren’t just about celebrating — they’re also often about giving gifts.

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The holidays can be exhausting, so prioritize self-care. Regular exercise, balanced meals, and sufficient sleep are essential to your mental and physical health. Taking time for yourself reduces stress and strengthens your resilience against triggers. The communal aspect of addiction support groups can offer comfort during the holidays, especially after a relapse, when you may not be feeling your best. Instead of dreading the onset of a holiday, sober holidays spend the time planning, thinking through possible outcomes, and what to do in response.

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While thinking about the holidays as a thing that looms large and may be full of triggers can cause anxiety, you’re only responsible for the day ahead of you. Take a moment during the holiday season to think about your progress. Think about the positive changes you’ve made and what you’ve achieved in your recovery.

• Although the holiday season is known as a particularly difficult time for people in recovery, other holidays can also be just as triggering.
• For a gift exchange, it can be fun to have a white elephant grab bag where everyone brings a gift for under ten dollars.
• Self-care is tremendously important on the road to recovery, and it shouldn’t be an afterthought when your schedule gets busy.
• Maybe a breakfast date with a friend or a morning walk in the park that will feel especially good because you won’t be hung over.
• Skipping a family dinner may be particularly challenging, but prioritizing your well-being over familial obligations is crucial.
• Although these tips can be helpful, family can sometimes be the biggest challenge when staying sober during the holidays.

For the addicted person and their family, more stress means more vulnerability. After all, the holidays can kick off a perfect storm of family and money stress. If you feel scared or unsafe in your own home, reach out for help.

• A strong support network is invaluable during the holidays.
• Sober Holidays Tip #28  Stay in touch with sober friends.
• No one will miss you and the social drinkers will understand.
• “It’s like you’ve shown up with a mirror, and they weren’t planning on doing any self-reflection tonight,” says Basel.

The holidays are a great time to look back on how far you’ve come. Reflect on your achievements in sobriety and celebrate your milestones, whether big or small. Acknowledging your progress can boost your confidence and motivation to continue on your path. Don’t worry about facing this holiday season in recovery alone.

The holidays are an ideal time to focus on gratitude, a powerful recovery tool. Flexibility and resilience are vital to navigating unexpected situations while staying sober. A study on relapse prevention highlights that poor self-care is a common precursor to emotional relapse. Use the acronym HALT—hungry, angry, lonely, tired—to check in with yourself regularly.

We all need human connection, support, and validation. 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. Maybe you are worried about your own drug use, or maybe you’re worried about the drug use of someone else. Either way, most addiction recovery agencies, treatment centers, and domestic violence resources increase efforts during the holidays. Call a local treatment center like Into Action Recovery Centers or a local crisis line.

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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 of yourself. Living with addiction takes the strength of a superhero, regardless of if you are the addict or the loved one.

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• Here are some relapse prevention tips and self-care ideas for the holiday season, or any time.
• If the holiday season feels overwhelming, it’s okay to ask for additional support.

This positive reinforcement can strengthen your commitment and provide motivation amphetamine addiction treatment during difficult times. Dove Recovery offers a variety of therapy programs designed to work with your specific needs and schedule. Our counseling and therapies give you professional guidance designed to help you on the journey to recovery and give you the skills and support you need for relapse prevention. There are so many ways to help others, and doing so can help you count your blessings and stay on the path to recovery.

Of course, it’s okay to partake a bit (we are only human), but try to set a limit and make every effort to eat nutritious meals and snacks each day. Strive for a full night’s sleep most nights of the week. And keep up with your exercise routine whether that means taking a daily walk or going to the gym. It is easy to let the holiday demands and activities disrupt our daily patterns and routines. This can take a toll on our physical and emotional well-being. No matter how hectic things get, be sure to carve out time for self-care between social engagements.