Though many people look forward to the holiday season all year, this time can be uniquely stressful for those in recovery, adding a layer of temptation that can create the conditions for a potential relapse. With Christmas and New Year’s Eve often revolving around alcohol-fueled celebrations and peer pressure, you must approach the season with a plan for staying on track.
Why Preserving Your Sobriety Matters During the Holidays
The holidays may stir up a mix of feelings, like excitement, loneliness, anxiety, and grief. These emotional highs and lows, paired with the societal normalization of excessive drinking, make the season anything but merry.
Relapsing during the holidays is a setback that makes it more challenging to recommit to your recovery. Staying accountable to your goals without undoing your good work allows you to fully embrace the season, build meaningful memories, and start the new year with clarity, confidence, and a strengthened commitment to your recovery.
Tips for Staying Sober
Staying sober throughout the holidays requires careful planning and self-care. Use these practical tips to enjoy the season without compromising your recovery.
- Have a strategy: If you plan to attend holiday events where you know other people will be drinking, bring a small cooler full of non-alcoholic beverages to ensure you have safe options. Ask your sobriety sponsor to be your plus-one and support you if you feel your resolve wavering. Rehearse polite ways to decline offers of alcohol and apologies in case you need to leave early.
- Know your triggers: The holidays involve things like complex family dynamics and nostalgia related to substance use. Make a list of your potential triggers and come up with ways to avoid them, such as skipping events or traditions that put your recovery at risk.
- Prioritize self-care: Stress and fatigue may make you more susceptible to relapse. Commit to self-care by getting enough sleep, eating healthy meals to stabilize your mood and energy levels, and making time for daily prayer.
- Limit time with difficult family members: The holidays often come with family gatherings that can dredge up unresolved conflicts or painful emotions. Set boundaries or limit your time with family members who make you feel unsafe or encourage unhealthy impulses.
- Attend support group meetings: Lean on your recovery community during the holidays. Many 12-step groups host extra in-person and virtual meetings during this time for people who need support. Staying connected to others who understand your struggles can reinforce your resolve.
- Celebrate in sober-friendly ways: Redefine what the holidays mean to you by creating new traditions that align with your recovery. Host a substance-free gathering, attend faith-based events, or volunteer to give back to those in need. These activities can help you focus on the true spirit of the season while avoiding alcohol-centric celebrations.
- Remain close to your faith: As a Christian in recovery, your faith can be a powerful anchor during challenging times. Spend time in prayer and meditation, attend church services, or read your Bible to remind yourself of God’s love and grace. Trust that God will provide the strength you need to remain steadfast. Remember Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Set realistic expectations: Commercials tend to idealize the holidays as a perfect time, but reality rarely lives up to the hype. Forgive yourself if everything doesn’t go as planned. Focus on gratitude and the progress you’ve made, instead of striving for an “ideal” experience.
A Faith-Focused Approach to Relapse Prevention
At Celebrate Hope, we understand how challenging the holidays can be. Focus on your faith and ask God to remove your doubts, so you can celebrate the season with peace and joy.
If you find yourself struggling during this time, remember that you don’t have to face it alone. Our Christ-centered drug and alcohol rehab program provides the tools, guidance, and community you need to succeed in recovery during the holidays and every other day of the year. Reach out to us today to learn more.
