The holidays can make it challenging to stay sober. With the increase in family gatherings, office parties, and social events, alcohol is often seen as a gathering staple. Simply put, it’s a time of year when there are a lot of parties. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s all fall within just 45 days of each other. With the added stressors of the social backdrop of the holiday season alone, make long-term recovery commitments incredibly difficult.
Sober communities, like ours, recognize that individuals in recovery often find the holidays to be one of the most difficult times of the year on their sobriety.
Going into this time of added pressure armed with advice can help you make it through the holiday season.
Prepare to Maintain Your Sobriety
It may seem obvious, but always plan ahead. People will undoubtedly offer you a drink during holiday-themed events and family gatherings. Unless you are fortunate enough to only be attending gatherings with other substance-free individuals, it is almost unheard of to not have some sort of alcoholic beverage on offer during celebrations. Declining drinks can even make others get defensive and judged for their choice to drink. Prepare in advance for difficult circumstances and upsetting surroundings.
Have a Ready Reply
For those recovering from addiction, the holidays may be particularly stressful since alcohol plays a major part in many family traditions and shows up in numerous festivities.
Plan your response if you foresee being served a drink. Often, a polite “no, thank you” will do, especially when lengthy justifications and evasive excuses might give you additional chances to cave. Being straightforward is the best approach. If you do not feel comfortable discussing why you are saying no, you shouldn’t feel pressured to come up with a response. Though we cannot control others and their acceptance – or disregard – of our refusal, saying no is the first step.
Supply Your Own Beverage
In social gatherings, it is expected of the courteous host to supply guests with beverages. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ Is a pretty standard line. You may feel confident in saying ‘no, thank you’ the first few times – or even a dozen – but eventually the constant ask can wear a person down. And then there are those instances of a host or friend simply handing you something without saying a word. It can be even tougher to turn down a drink that is literally put into your hand.
By bringing your own beverage you not only cut down on the number of times you will be asked if you need a drink, you are also far less likely to be handed something if your hand is already full.
Tips to Stay Sober in Social Gatherings
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- Attend a sobriety group or enlist the help of a sober companion
- Make arrangements to speak with or have a meeting with a mentor
- Acquire your own means of transportation or share a ride with a member of your support group
- Bring your own beverage
- Spend as little time as possible with difficult people and in challenging situations
- Be prepared to respectfully decline alcohol or other substances
- Plan your getaway in case the situation goes south
Make an Escape Strategy
Remember that your willpower is a finite resource. It’s not about strength of character, a moral failing, or any of the other false narratives that run rampant through society. Be honest with yourself about the energy you have to devote to refusing and redirecting – and don’t force yourself to remain past that point.
If you worry over feeling pressured to remain, it helps to state from the point of your arrival that you can only stay for a certain amount of time. Take some time to reflect on how much time you are positive you can remain before feeling overwhelmed, pressured, or anxious. Set your time limit based on that. Even if it’s 10 minutes. Having a hard out gives you piece of mind and sets limits on your time and energy ahead of the event.
It’s okay to leave before the gathering ends. Not everyone may be happy with your decision, but healthy relationships are the goal, and respecting boundaries is a big part of that.
Avoid Traps and Triggers as Much as Possible
Avoid those in your life that you know will cause you trouble. Admittedly, this is far easier to say, than do. It isn’t always possible to completely avoid triggering individuals when they are also invited to the same holiday functions. But in those circumstances, your escape strategy can come in handy.
In instances where you are fairly certain that an event will center the very thing you are aiming to abstain from, make a short appearance with a very hard out, or skip the gathering all together. It is okay to hold your ground and say no. It is okay to stick to your hard-won boundaries. Even with family.
Take Care of Yourself During the Holidays
Take a moment for yourself to enjoy the holidays and celebrate your sober life. Remember that taking care of your own needs is an essential piece of recovery too. Your health can greatly benefit from a balanced diet, modest exercise, and restful sleep. Contemplate your life and connect with the individuals you love. Regardless of how busy you are, set aside some downtime every day for rest and meditation—even if it is only for a short while. Try out this five-minute mindful meditation to recenter yourself.
Falling is Not Failure
It’s crucial to constantly remind oneself that getting sober and maintaining sobriety are never easy tasks.
Your journey is not over if you make a mistake. Stay true to your initial commitment, reconnect with your sober group, and begin anew.
Recovery is a Journey
Being able to live without alcohol or drugs takes effort, and time, and patience with yourself.
We need healthy, safe, supportive environments to make long-term recovery possible. This is why establishing a sober community and getting help when you are struggling is crucial. None of us can do it alone.
Sober Housing & Recovery Centers During the Holiday Season
While the holidays might be picture perfect for some, that is not the reality for many. The ultimate gift that you can offer to your loved ones, friends, and even yourself this holiday season may be getting more information on getting into an addiction recovery program.
Although it can be difficult, staying sober over the holidays is not impossible. Asking for help this season is an excellent place to start.
Make Connections
Make new relationships to aid in your recovery process, and the road to recovery becomes a lot less isolating. You can start connecting with people who share this challenging journey of recovery by attending a support group or via online forums. Thanks to the internet, people now have far more opportunities to meet and communicate with others who are walking similar paths. What’s more, many online forums and supportive networks allow for anonymity as well as humor, succinctness, advice, camaraderie, empathy, and everything in between. There is a good fit out there for you.
Interested in learning more about Recovery Community Development? Reach out today, and begin your journey towards a sober and fulfilling life while making connections that will last.