If you know Cousin Sadie is going to grill you about rehab, avoid her. Recovery, if about anything, is about connecting with other people. Addiction slowly robs you of your relationships, as you become emotionally obsessed with your drug of choice. With recovery comes a blossoming of human connection, interaction, meaning, and hope. In order to recover, we learn tools to keep ourselves centered, such as humility, compassion, listening skills, and mindfulness.
How Drugs Can Alter Brain Chemistry
Let a close friend know that you need an accountability partner to attend an event Alcoholics Anonymous with you. Let family and friends know in advance that you won’t be drinking alcohol at the event. Assuming holidays or certain family traditions have to be the way they have always been, can derail success. 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.
Related Content
It’s important to keep expectations for yourself realistic in how you will maintain your recovery. We are dedicated to providing you with valuable resources that educate and empower you to live better. First, our content is authored by the experts — our editorial team co-writes our content with mental health professionals at Thriveworks, including therapists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and more. Thriveworks was established in 2008, with the ultimate goal of helping people live happy and successful lives.
How to Help Someone with Gambling Addiction
- Then you can break down those defensive walls and forgive other people, and you can approach the holiday season with a stronger sense of gratitude.
- Let go of past holiday habits that may have involved unhealthy behaviors and replace them with activities that bring joy and meaning to your life.
- Not to mention, there will be triggers almost everywhere you go.
- • We encourage you to be supportive and proactive about your family member’s recovery.
- At family gatherings and social events, tote around your favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Your abstinence did not, in fact, teach you how to control your drinking, because abstinence didn’t rewire your brain to be non-addicted. A mistake is not a relapse, and reframing holidays in early recovery it’s not going to land you in rehab, but those secrets might. For people in early recovery, these stressors can be more severe. Everything you’ve picked up during the recovery phases can be super helpful, especially during the holiday shuffle.
My first holiday season in recovery was an emotional roller coaster. As those who have struggled with addiction can understand, being around family during the holidays is hard. Sometimes, recovery involves taking a break from certain people and situations so as to really focus on oneself and avoid bad influences. Because no matter how much we love our families and no matter how much they love us, having them too involved in the first stages of recovery can be a major distraction and very difficult to navigate.
How Does Addiction Impact the Thought Process?
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. In addition, the holidays can present temptations and triggers that can make staying sober during the winter particularly difficult. Reframing your mindset to embrace winter can go a long way in helping you stay sober. Let people know – Letting a supportive person know you are abstaining from drugs and alcohol during the holidays will help combat https://ecosoberhouse.com/ feelings of loneliness or isolation that can arise.
Dec A Framework for Staying Sober Through the Holidays in Early Recovery
Finally, we frequently update old content to reflect the most up-to-date information. If you need assistance booking, we’ll be happy to help — our support team is available 7 days a week. Our hope is merely to capture the spirit of the fellowships, and to approach people with the language they commonly use to describe the disease of addiction. Discover the power of a sobriety calculator in tracking recovery progress and inspiring change. Discover a guide to court-mandated alcohol & drug classes, helping individuals understand recovery and compliance. Explore how cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively treat alcohol addiction and foster long-term recovery.
