Staying Healthy Through the Holidays

It’s easy to forget about maintaining your recovery routine when you’re in the middle of holiday chaos. It’s very important to prioritize your health and be mindful of your recovery coping mechanisms. Sometimes it is necessary to miss out on a holiday function to attend a counseling session or group meeting.

• Freedom from alcohol in 90 days​ with clinical, community, and coexisting issue support.
• Their holiday bonus might feel like it’s begging to slip into her dealer’s pocket or the liquor store’s till.
• This helps to make the individual feel supported and understood, thereby reducing feelings of stress and isolation.

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By integrating family therapy into the recovery process, the journey through the holiday season can be more manageable and less tiring for people battling addiction. Maintaining perspective involves recognizing the inherent challenges of the holiday season and taking proactive steps to manage them. It’s important to educate family and friends on how to interact with someone in recovery from substance use challenges, as some individuals may not fully understand how to support them during holiday events. Family conflicts during holiday gatherings can bring up feelings of resentment and past painful experiences, potentially triggering alcohol and substance misuse among individuals in recovery. One of the potential reasons for the increased risk of relapse during the holidays is the presence of certain holiday triggers.

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With the right strategies and support, you can make this holiday season a meaningful and fulfilling part of your recovery story. This therapy aims to strengthen family bonds and improve understanding, creating a supportive home environment. It’s particularly beneficial during the holidays, as it teaches families to be a pillar of support, understanding the needs of their loved ones in recovery.

While it takes practice, reframing negative thoughts can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem. Download our free guide about how to better support a loved one with substance use disorder. Freedom from alcohol in 90 days​ with clinical, community, and coexisting issue support. Recovery is about perseverance in spite of discomfort, and what we often find on the other side of pushing through those uncomfortable emotions is that it’s not as hard as we originally thought.

• Practices like meditation, yoga, or simply spending time in nature can help you stay grounded and connected to your recovery goals.
• The holidays can bring a mix of emotions, from joy and gratitude to loneliness and grief.
• A healthy support system, consisting of positive and supportive individuals, can significantly contribute to sustainable recovery and reflection on progress in the recovery journey.
• These things sound ridiculously simple, but helping your loved one to feel useful and occupied will help keep them engaged in the present—which is a really powerful tool against relapse.

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These goals can range from attending regular support group meetings to abstaining from substances at holiday gatherings. Resilience is a vital element of recovery and involves developing skills to cope with setbacks and challenges effectively. Surrounding oneself with positive, supportive people can significantly contribute to ensuring sustainable recovery and reflecting on one’s progress in the recovery journey.

Some people struggle with immense sadness during the holidays, often called the «holiday blues.» Putting too much pressure on yourself to create the perfect holiday experience can lead to disappointment and stress. It’s easy to romanticize the holidays, but it’s important to keep expectations grounded. Understand that not every gathering or interaction will be perfect, and that’s okay.

Strengthening Family Bonds

In January, calls to addiction helplines surge compared to December, with a notable increase in serious calls reporting disruptive incidents involving addicted family members during the festive season 2. Once you get through the season, take some time to review which coping strategies worked well over the holidays and which didn’t. Make any adjustments needed and establish your strategies for the future to keep you on the path to recovery. Perhaps journal about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences so you can review them in planning ahead for the next year. Ensure there are some nonalcoholic beverage alternatives and that you have an escape route.

The holiday season, often seen as a time of joy and celebration, can present unique challenges for people struggling with addictions. More awareness and support are necessary since the feelings of loneliness, stress, and temptation may be worse at this time. The festive atmosphere with social gatherings and often alcohol-centric celebrations can significantly impact those battling alcohol-related problems. Acknowledging that holidays are difficult for people with addictions and offering comprehensive support and strategies to navigate this season is important.

Impact of Holiday Triggers

Holidays may bring emotional stress such as family conflict, trauma, financial concerns, and loneliness, which can push individuals back to poor coping strategies if they are not well-equipped to manage these stressors. A healthy support system, consisting of positive and supportive individuals, can significantly contribute to sustainable recovery and reflection on progress in the recovery journey. By implementing these strategies, individuals in recovery can successfully navigate the holiday season, maintaining their commitment to sobriety while still enjoying the festivities. Prioritizing self-care is essential for those in addiction recovery, especially during the holidays. Engaging in activities such as meditation, regular exercise, getting sufficient sleep, and maintaining healthy eating habits can significantly bolster resilience against cravings and stress. Planning ahead, setting boundaries, and having open conversations about addiction and recovery can also play a significant role in managing holiday triggers.

These measures can help maintain commitment to sobriety during this challenging period 4. Being aware of personal triggers, such as social gatherings, stress, loneliness, and nostalgia, is critical. Recognizing these triggers empowers individuals to proactively plan strategies to avoid or manage them effectively.

By communicating your needs and asking for space, you can help why are the holidays so hard for those in recovery your family create a festive holiday environment that is also healthy and supportive for your recovery. It’s best to involve everyone in these plans to avoid surprises and awkward confrontations. While we all want to enjoy the holidays, the celebratory season ushers in added stressors that pose unique mental wellness and recovery challenges. There are many things you can do to cope constructively and maintain mental health and sobriety.

Many people relapse during the holidays—so it’s crucial that you provide support to your loved one during this time. Workit Health has previously shared about some ways the families of people in recovery can help to support them, and ways people in recovery can support themselves. Today, I’m going to talk a little bit about why holidays can produce so much extra stress, so that you can better understand and help your loved one in early recovery. Staying connected with your support networks, such as group therapy sessions or sober peers, is especially important during the holiday season.