Preparing for the Holidays While in Addiction Recovery

Risks of Relapse During The Holiday Season

The holiday season carries with it risks of relapse for people who struggle with addiction and abuse of both drugs and alcohol. Even if celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays is something a sober person loves, common expectations to drink or engage in recreational drug use during parties or get-togethers seem ubiquitous. Taking into account the increased stressors of heightened emotions, family dynamics, or financial issues, the holidays seem like a perfect storm of triggers for taking solace in past harmful behaviors involving drug and alcohol abuse. Many studies have shown that binge drinking increases during the holiday season, even for people who normally don’t drink that much or at all. To protect one’s mental, emotional, and physical health, being knowledgeable and remaining vigilant about potentially dangerous situations and triggers is paramount for those who suffer from addiction. There are many resources available online for former addicts and abusers on how to manage the potential stress of the holidays, and many recovery communities and group meetings provide tips and support to stay sober while enjoying holiday celebrations. Keep reading for a starter collection of advice to maintain your sobriety from drug and alcohol abuse as we head into the holiday season.

Learn how to prepare for the holidays while in addiction recovery here.https://t.co/zuGg2xhEww

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) October 10, 2022

How To Prepare for the Holidays While in Recovery

Manage Expectations

It can take practice, but giving yourself a reality check about anticipations and expectations for the holiday season could help make any get-together stress-free. Give yourself some grace about not feeling excited or jazzed for any holiday, and offer grace to others around you.

Plan Ahead

Making a plan for yourself to navigate social interactions can help avoid awkwardness and potential triggers. If you’ve given yourself an idea of what to do if an uncomfortable situation arises, it’s much easier to follow through at the moment.

Have an Escape Route

Healthy boundaries are important to anyone. It’s okay to leave a function if you’re not having fun or worried cravings might be on the horizon. Leaving gracefully might give you a sense of control and accomplishment from doing what you set out to do.

Ask for Help

Gather a support group around you of understanding friends or like-minded individuals. Sobriety might seem easier if people you love and trust are helping shoulder the burden. True friends would rather sacrifice drinking or using drugs if it kept you safe and healthy.

Schedule Activities

Have an outing with friends where no alcohol is involved, or attend community events at libraries or museums. Attend support group meetings. Volunteer to contribute to more good in the world. Don’t overcommit, however. Rest is just as important.

Say ‘No’

Sometimes being “negative” can be very healthy. You are under no obligation to accept every invitation extended. If you sense a party or get-together might be jarring or dangerous, politely decline. Only attend events that will bring joy to your soul.

Prioritize Self-Care

Relax, recharge, and take time off if you’re able. Take a little extra time in the shower or bath. Finish that book. Start that new TV show. Do whatever you do that offers yourself kindness and love. It’s easier to be kinder to ourselves if we take care of ourselves.

What If I Relapse During the Holidays?

Both your body and your mind can lead you back to drugs or alcohol. Whether you’re around people you used to abuse drugs or alcohol with or you’re dealing with stress, your mind can impart positive memories of substance abuse. Even with detox and rehab, the slightest trigger can inspire a positive recollection. Remember: relapse is not your fault, and it’s okay to admit it. Forgive yourself, and seek help.

Substance abuse and mental health disorders have a lot of overlap, and oftentimes a relapse of mental health issues can cause one to drugs or alcohol, or vice versa. The same brain functions govern the internal conditions that may result in a relapse of either or both of the related issues. Contact your sponsor, if you have one, attend a meeting as soon as you can, or ask for help from your friends or family to contact a detox center if medically supervised detox is necessary. In many situations involving alcohol or drug use or overdose, the best chance at further recovery and relapse prevention is contacting a rehab center for detox and addiction treatment.

Why  Addiction Treatment Can’t Wait Until After The Holidays

A common reason given for not seeking addiction treatment is waiting until after the holidays to go to rehab. It may seem more convenient, but there is never a more convenient or better time to seek treatment than as soon as possible. A popular proverb reads, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.” In other words, there’s no time like the present to set yourself up for future success. 

Relapse prevention is why most people seek treatment. By the time most individuals seek help, they have already tried to quit on their own and they are looking for a better solution. Enrolling in a rehab or treatment program during the holidays may seem unorthodox, but one of the first rules for a successful recovery is “Change your life.” It may be a bit of a wider interpretation than originally understood, but breaking out of a routine could be the change you need for sober living. 

Your family might even think the holidays are a bad or inappropriate time to get into an addiction treatment center, but it could be an ideal opportunity. Substance abuse often ramps up during the holidays, and help from an addiction treatment center could help you avoid triggers or pressures. Many employers offer time off during the holidays, and going to rehab over the holidays could lessen the impact recovery might take on your work hours. Addiction treatment initiated during the holidays could be the best gift you give to your family, your friends, and yourself.

Addiction Recovery Support at Resurgence Behavioral Health

Resurgence Behavioral Health provides a full range of levels of care, including detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, and continued support in aftercare. We take a comprehensive approach to drug and alcohol addiction treatment stemming from dual diagnosis, which addresses the mental health aspect of abuse and addiction, like trauma or unhealthy coping mechanisms. We address addiction and mental health disorders in a safe, relaxing space set up like a retreat environment. Our picturesque rural setting offers plenty of outdoor activities to promote healing among nature in conjunction with clinical treatment programs.

We offer medically sanctioned, evidence-based therapies with a holistic lens. We individualize your rehab treatment plan to promote a healthy lifestyle and lasting recovery. Our doctors and therapists meet you where you are in your recovery journey. The modalities we employ also include family therapy since addictions don’t only negatively affect the individual struggling with abuse. We help families understand why and how an addiction developed, and the best healthy ways to care for their loved one afterward. Many family members also need support in processing their own emotional trauma, and Resurgence facilitates a chance to rebuild trust and begin to heal. Contact Resurgence Behavioral Health to help write the next chapter in your sobriety success story.

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

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