12 Tips to Staying Clean and Sober during the Holidays

Whatever your goals are, make sure they are realistic and achievable. The temptation to drink beer at BBQs and parties can be strong, and the fireworks can trigger anxiety or flashbacks for those who have experienced trauma. For some people, sobriety means abstaining from all drugs and alcohol. For others, it may mean avoiding certain substances or using them only in moderation. And for some people, sobriety is less about avoiding substances altogether and more about being mindful of how they use them.

Want to stay sober? Stay helpful

Instead of showing up to a holiday event on edge and defensive, you can arrive open minded, positive, and accepting. Ask yourself, what do I have to be thankful for this time of year? The chance to see family members and friends you haven’t seen in a long time? Just think of all the progress you have made thus far in your recovery and be proud of your accomplishments. In one regard, this is another barrier to being tempted to use again.

• Don’t put yourself in situations where you might be tempted to relapse.
• Instead of dwelling on the number of gifts under the tree, focus on the experiences you create.

Start New (Sober) Traditions

• She has given two TEDx talks, both challenging the status quo of parenting, alcohol use and feminism as we know it.
• Over the past 15 years, Chris has worked as a tireless advocate for addicts and their loved ones while becoming a sought-after digital entrepreneur.
• Emily Lynn Paulson is an author, speaker and the founder of Sober Mom Squad.

Find support through friends, family, and advocates of your sobriety. Learn to start new holiday traditions, rather than falling back on old habits. Recovery can be lonely and isolating, especially https://ecosoberhouse.com/ during the holiday season. Try not to let your loved ones spend the holidays by themselves. Instead, join them in sober activities and offer to visit if they choose to skip parties that involve drinking.

Bring Your Own Beverages

• Many people find it helpful to attend extra recovery meetings, such as peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), during the holidays.
• Most people with addiction expect their upside-down world to immediately turn right side up.
• The holidays can be stressful, but stay as busy as possible.
• For many of the reasons mentioned earlier, substance abuse tends to ramp up over the holidays.
• In that time, Julie’s brother-in-law, who always arrives under the influence of drugs, drinks too much and starts arguments.

Having your own transportation home — whether it’s your own car, a ride-hailing service, or a sober friend — means you can leave when you want to leave. If someone pressures you, Sultan said, assert your boundaries. “It’s OK to firmly yet politely decline offers to drink,” Sultan said. “Ask for a nonalcoholic drink like a mocktail or something that might look more alcoholic so no one knows that you’re not drinking,” Rollins said. If you’ve had a slip, or have relapsed over the holidays, be kind to yourself.

From financial stress to family conflict, the added stress can make it more difficult to resist the temptation to drink. Such triggers can be emotional (e.g., loneliness, anxiety, depression) or physical (e.g., fatigue, poor sleeping habits). The holidays should be a festive and happy occasion, but they also pose significant challenges. The winter season may enhance strained relationships and increase drug and alcohol temptations.

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. Local and state resources for substance abuse and addiction can vary according to where you live. Relapse among people sober holidays with substance use disorder is not uncommon.