How To Stay Sober During The Holidays

Serve a meal at a homeless shelter, reach out to a newcomer at a meeting, spend time with an elderly loved one or neighbor. There are a million different ways to give back, pay it forward and be of service, and each opportunity guides you further away from resentment, self-pity and fear. The pressures and high expectations we place on the holiday season sometimes cause us to feel overwhelmed with stress https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/8-tips-on-ow-to-spend-holidays-sober/ and anxiety rather than merriment. While gratitude lists can be effective tools to help keep the momentum of treatment moving, meditating from a place of true gratitude, however, changes the brain and the way the brain functions. When done properly, anxiety diminishes, the focus of our thinking changes, and best of all, we can look at the life we’ve been given in a way that recognizes its worth.

Sometimes we get caught up in how we have always celebrated the holidays. She enjoys meeting new people when she travels, and drinking can help with that, but she says it “definitely takes its toll emotionally, mentally, financially and physically”. “I had the shock of my life when I discovered just how expensive it is to drink out here,” Frater says. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, young backpackers coming to Australia are also noticing a move away from drinking.

What Are Common Triggers During The Holidays?

This helpline is a free resource at no cost to the caller. We are here to provide assistance in locating an Ark Behavioral Health treatment center that may meet your treatment needs. Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available. If you’ve https://ecosoberhouse.com/ slipped more than once, this might be a sign you need additional support, such as more frequent counseling sessions or an intensive outpatient program. If you have had one slip, or especially if you’ve had multiple slips, it’s important to recognize not only that this happened, but that you don’t have to face it alone. Relapse among people with substance use disorder is not uncommon.

• The company conducted a study of 1,000 gen Z Australians that showed 84% would take a holiday without drinking.
• Most people with addiction expect their upside-down world to immediately turn right side up.
• If someone pushes your boundaries, don’t feel bad about stepping away or leaving the situation altogether.
• If everyone starts talking about the “good old days,” leave the room.
• McDermott is one of many gen Zs – those born between 1997 and 2012 – who are choosing to drink less, including when they travel.

“In Spain or Italy they might drink on a night out, but they don’t binge in the same way,” she says. Celebrate the holiday season and the fullness of your sober life by taking time for yourself. Proper nutrition, gentle exercise and restorative sleep can do wonders for your well-being. The better you feel physically, the stronger you will be emotionally. Nourish your spirit, too, through personal reflection and connection with those you love.

Want to travel, but don’t wish to room alone?

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. Use “I” statements like “I feel uncomfortable when…” or “I’d prefer…” to clearly communicate needs without unnecessary drama. Most importantly, avoid accusatory or judgemental language.

Let them know that you are trying to stay away from substances this year and that you need their support. Critically, this means that you should avoid overeating too much during the holiday season. Often, this excessive eating can trigger drug or alcohol abuse by recreating conditions for past abuse. Sometimes, entering into an individual therapy program or even a few weeks in an outpatient drug rehab center may help you boost your physical health a bit more during the holidays.

How To Celebrate The Holidays While Staying Sober

While the New Year is a popular time to make a change for the better, waiting to get the help you need is never the best option. To get started on your recovery journey, contact a treatment provider to learn more about your options. All of us need connection and support in our recovery; especially during the holidays. Make your recovery meetings a priority, find time with friends who enrich you, and surround yourself with those who make you feel known and loved. Depression spikes and relapses escalate during this season. Maintaining our connections to others is part of staying present and accountable for our recovery.