For many people in recovery, both newly out of rehab and those who have more time in, the holidays can be extremely nerve-wracking. So many holiday-specific moments and emotions can trigger those in recovery that it’s helpful to have a plan ahead of time to help you navigate the “eat, drink, and be merry” season while remaining sober. At The Right Step Houston, we offer an addiction aftercare program that helps you stay on track even after discharge from rehab.
If you have questions about maintaining sobriety during the holidays and how to manage addiction triggers, call The Right Step Houston at 1.844.768.0169 to talk to one of our staff.
Why Sobriety Can Be Hard During the Holidays
During the holidays, there are many potential landmines for people in recovery. Even the elements of a holiday meant to be most fun can lead to stress. Here are some reasons why maintaining sobriety can be challenging during this season:
- Social events often revolve around alcohol or drugs, and there are typically many social gatherings at the holidays.
- Schedules go out the window during the holidays, and for many people in recovery, routines around 12-step meetings, exercise, therapy, and work or school are critical.
- Families can bring stress if there are challenging dynamics, family members with unresolved addictions, a history of trauma, or peer pressure just to have one drink or join in drug use.
- Travel, gift-purchasing, and hosting parties can add to stress due to pressures related to planning, expense, and anxiety about making the holidays perfect.
If you’re concerned about managing addiction triggers during the upcoming holiday season, there are things you can do to mitigate stress and the risk of relapse.
How to Manage Addiction Triggers During the Holidays
Below are some well-established strategies for managing your ongoing recovery during the holiday season, regardless of pitfalls:
- Make plans with friends and peers who are also in recovery – Planning sober activities or downtime with them can help you navigate the other aspects of the season.
- Be available to support sober friends – Helping others is a great way to reaffirm your commitment to recovery.
- Doing acts of service feels good – Serving meals on holiday, volunteering at an animal shelter, or shoveling your elderly neighbor’s driveway—these things produce endorphins that’ll naturally lift your heart and mood.
- Consider ramping up your attendance at meetings – Don’t skip your meetings despite the wacky holiday schedule. If you can add additional meetings to your calendar during the holidays, that’d be all the better.
- Change up your old holiday routines – If you used to meet friends to drink at a particular pub, meet sober friends somewhere else. If New Year’s Eve was a major night for using drugs or alcohol for you, there’s no shame in a quiet evening at home.
- Avoid the people who trigger you – If certain members of your extended family aren’t supportive of your recovery, you don’t need to go to their Christmas party. The uncle or brother-in-law who says, “One beer won’t hurt,” isn’t good for you either. Misguided opinions about addiction from family members can trigger defensiveness or hurt, leading to relapse.
- Ask close friends and family if your holiday gatherings can be sober events – Finally, let the people who care about you know how you feel about the approaching holidays.
It’s easier to navigate the season when you have the understanding and support of your loved ones.
Call The Right Step Houston to Enroll in an Addiction Aftercare Program This Holiday
Reach out to us at The Right Step Houston so we can discuss your concerns. We understand the challenges of the holidays for those in recovery. Our addiction aftercare program is instrumental in supporting our alumni through challenging times.
Call 1.844.768.0169 or use our online form to connect. Let’s make sure this holiday season is the best it can be for you.