Be Thankful for Your Sobriety - How to Protect Your Sobriety During the Holidays.

Holidays can be a time of added stress for everyone, and particularly for people in recovery, for a number of reasons. You may be experiencing disruptions in your normal routine during the holidays including being away from home, having unstructured time, increased spending, and the expectation to be festive.

So what can you do to protect your sobriety during the holidays? Here are some tips!

First it’s important to plan for potential triggers that might present themselves. For instance, some relapse triggers during the holidays might be:

• More alcohol or drugs at parties

• Normal routine interrupted

• More contact with family members

• Increased emotions from holiday memories

Once you have determined what your potential triggers are, it’s important to come up with a game plan for how you will handle them when and if they arise.

For instance, you may want to accept invitations to parties selectively by thinking about who might be attending and what kind of access to drugs or alcohol there would be for you. For some, accepting invitations from family members might depend on the kind of family dynamic you have. If your family members are big drinkers or use drugs, or if they are triggering to you in any other way, it may be in your best interest to steer clear of those gatherings.

If you do decide to attend a gathering that might increase your risk for relapse, it might also be helpful to have a back-up plan in place, or a ready made excuse to leave early if things become dicey for you. Perhaps it is, “I have an errand to run,” or “I have to go home to let the dog out,” or “I’ve got a headache and should go home to lay down.” Either way, if you’re armed with an escape plan, it’s difficult for people to talk you into staying when you’re ready to go.

When your routine is interrupted, things like proper sleep, exercise, and self care time tend to go out the window. Make sure that you are getting the sleep you need so you can deal with the added stress of the holidays. Also, try to taking a walk after your holiday meal to clear your mind and lift your spirits if necessary. Breathing exercises are also an excellent way to take care of yourself when you are feeling especially frazzled.

Finally, for Thanksgiving in particular, it is helpful to be thankful for how far you have come in your recovery. Be thankful for your sober days. Count them up. They are a big achievement and something to be proud and protective of. Sometimes just remembering this can be enough to keep you on your path.

From everyone at Morse Clinics, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season!