The holiday season can be a difficult time for a recovering addict. With parties every weekend, seeing old friends, and the stresses of family members visiting, it can be tough to stay away from substances that led to your addiction in the first place. At Outreach, we’re here to help. Read these six tips to help with your addiction recovery during the holidays.
Plan activities that keep you busy
Idle time is the enemy of addiction recovery during the holidays. The best way to combat the temptation of relapse is to keep yourself busy. It’s usually easy enough to keep busy with the number of special events and activities going on through the holiday season. If you’re struggling to find things to do, watch movies, go see Christmas lights, pick up a hobby, or even go caroling. The more active you are, the better off you’ll be.
Keep going to meetings
Don’t take the holidays off from going to meetings. Stick with your support group and maintain your routine. Let those who support you continue to provide that support. If you’re traveling during the holidays, find a meeting to attend while you’re away from home.
Don’t overdo it
Take care of yourself mentally and physically over the holidays. Make sure that you’re getting the rest that you need while continuing to maintain your self-care regimen. The routine that has gotten you this far in recovery is working, so take the time to keep at it. If you’re staying up too late, eating too much, or skipping exercise sessions, you’re more likely to break away from the rest of your process to maintain addiction recovery during the holidays.
Be open about your recovery
If you have to tell people that you’re in recovery, that’s fine. By letting those around you know that you’re in addiction recovery, you continue to build a network of support. The more people you surround yourself with who can help, the better off you’ll be.
Don’t romanticize substance abuse
When a group of old friends gets together, it’s easy to start romanticizing the past. Don’t let those around you make light of what you’ve been through with addiction or treat it like “the good old days.” This kind of conversation can easily lead to obsession with that past, which can lead to cravings. Focus on the now and your continual path to recovery.
Use the buddy system
Take somebody with you wherever you go. Whether you’re traveling, going to a party, or some other special event, have a friend or family member come with you. Make sure this person knows that you’re in addiction recovery and that you’re trying to stay sober during the holidays.
Follow these six tips to help you with your continual journey through addiction recovery during the holidays. If you need more help staying sober, you can always call Outreach. We’re here to help you.
If you do relapse, don’t lose hope. Contact Outreach to find out what we can do to help. You can reach out to us by calling 888.897.9284 or send us a message using our contact form. You can also send an email directly to [email protected]. Our team of addiction recovery professionals is always ready and willing to help.