Some good ideas that you could try are things like restorative yoga or art therapy, but you can test out new hobbies that can also be therapeutic like wood carving, ice skating, cooking, or hiking. If you are in early recovery, you might think that celebrating the holidays is going to look quite different than in recent years. Attending alcohol or drug rehab means you are already aware that relapse is something you must always guard against.
- Depression and anxiety are strong contributing factors in individuals relapsing and falling back down the path of alcoholism and substance abuse.
- Being able to take a walk, relax in a quiet room, step away to connect by telephone with another person in recovery, attend a mutual aid meeting, or gracefully depart early can be very important to a person in early recovery.
- The pandemic has added another layer of challenges during the holiday season this year.
- For example, most cities have holiday recovery-a-thons (24-hour recovery meeting events) for the exact reason that this is such a difficult time for people in recovery.
- Well, during the holidays, we’ll be surrounded by these opportunities!
Learning to Recognize the Physical Signs of Anxiety
Suboxone should not be taken by individuals who have been shown to be hypersensitive to buprenorphine or naloxone as serious adverse reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported. Taking Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants can cause breathing problems that can lead to coma and death. Other side effects may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, constipation, insomnia, pain, increased sweating, sleepiness, dizziness, coordination problems, physical dependence or abuse, and liver problems. For more information about Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) see Suboxone.com, the full Prescribing Information, and Medication Guide, or talk to your healthcare provider.
- Each sober holiday season strengthens your resilience and reinforces the positive changes you’ve made in your life.
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- As the years in recovery increase, you will be able to gain a sense of being able to enjoy the festivities without having to worry about the chances of a relapse.
- Perhaps your spouse has thought of some nuance that you haven’t.
- Christmas is an especially high-risk time of the year for people in recovery.
- Disconnections within the family setting are commonplace, but that doesn’t mean you, at this vulnerable time in your life, need to step into the fray.
Don’t overindulge
The sober life brings many rewards, but it isn’t realistic to believe that one can go through life never being around alcohol or other temptations. However, a young person in early sobriety is particularly vulnerable because they haven’t yet developed confidence in their sober lifestyle. For people in or seeking recovery, 12-step programs provide a widely available and remarkably effective support system by surrounding them with people who have gone through and are going through the same struggles.
- Unfortunately, this feeling doesn’t last, so they will try to recapture it over and over again.
- These data suggest that most people know someone who is abstaining from alcohol and other drugs.
- Those who are supportive of your recovery want to know what you need.
- Consider volunteering or planning and hosting a sober gathering.
Take Pride in Yourself and Stay Positive
However, we can make intentional decisions to support our community members in recovery as we navigate the holiday season. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, substance use may be even higher than in previous years. There has been an increase in alcohol sales in the U.S. from March to September months of 2020, suggesting more at-home alcohol consumption during the pandemic (Castaldelli-Maia et al., 2021). Thus, this year, in particular, there may be more individuals struggling with alcohol and other drug consumption during the holiday season.
It could be simply that you’re driving or have an early commitment in the morning. The key to getting through the holidays with your sobriety intact is to avoid the urge to self-medicate when trying to overcome these feelings of holiday anxiety. The holidays can be a season of highs and lows for anyone, but if you are recently sober – or even several years into recovery – it can be difficult to stay clean during this time.
Establishing Healthy Boundaries During the Holidays
If another trigger is family conflict, then if and when conflict arises, an individual can rely on mindfulness techniques to work through it. If you or a loved one needs additional support during the holiday season or at any time in your recovery journey, Swift River is here to help. Our compassionate team understands the unique challenges of maintaining sobriety and is ready to provide the support and resources you need.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA. After individuals spend some time identifying potential relapse triggers, they must also identify effective ways to manage those triggers. Successful coping mechanisms are different for everyone as well as different for each trigger. For example, some individuals may not feel equipped to be in environments with substance use. In this case, an effective solution would be to avoid such environments during the holidays.
Have a Non-Alcoholic Drink in Hand
We provide detox and residential addiction treatment to individuals from all across the United States. In order to cope with an anxiety disorder, a person may start to self-treat with drugs and alcohol. They will experience temporary relief and even a sense of euphoria.
If their family does not respect that boundary, then the individual in recovery should feel comfortable not attending gatherings. Likewise, learning how to say “no” is crucial for those working to sustain their sobriety throughout the holidays. For individuals in recovery, it is not enough to enter the holiday season without having any preparations in place for staying sober. In other words, it is vital for individuals to create a framework that identifies guidelines and expectations that they can use to protect their sobriety. Some plan extra therapy sessions before the holidays to try to smooth things over in advance.
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CRAFT aims to teach family and friends self-protection and non-confrontational communication skills to help their addicted loved one find recovery. Moreover, holidays trigger minor depressive symptoms for millions of people every year. Individuals in recovery have an increased risk of experiencing depressive episodes during their first holiday in recovery. Often, people feel depressed due to issues out of their control. Christmas is an especially reframing holidays in early recovery high-risk time of the year for people in recovery. One of the most dangerous times for someone with substance use disorder is the holidays.