It is never a one-size-fits-all process, but more often than reframing holidays in early recovery not, family members provide links for rebuilding their loves one’s lives. The family unit, which can be uniquely defined for each person, also passes through a process of addiction recovery. Families have a dual purpose in helping their loved ones in their recovery to overcome shame, guilt, depression and disconnection, and in maintaining accountability and responsibility for their actions.
The end-of-year holidays can be a challenge for those in addiction recovery.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains “The holiday season is fraught with triggers such as songs, scents, and rituals. Early recovery brings reawakened awareness of the harm one caused oneself and one’s family and friends during the course of the addiction. It is also a time when the brain and body are still actively recovering from the effects of addiction. Those in early recovery are relatively new at learning to experience, process, and manage feelings and to function in social situations without the use of a substance.
Making a Plan to Navigate the Holidays
There are a million different opinions online, but when it comes to your life, health and wellness only peer reviewed reputable data matters. At Recovery Unplugged, all information published on our website has been rigorously medically reviewed by a doctorate level medical professional, and cross checked to ensure medical accuracy. Cognitive-behavioral strategies are helpful tools to use throughout the holidays, especially since negative thoughts can increase stress. For example, if your in-laws comment negatively about your cooking, you may think of yourself as a terrible cook. However, remember that just because someone says something critical about you, it doesn’t mean it’s true. The holidays are a source of heightened tension and stress for almost everyone, not only those in recovery.
Finding Hope and Support:
Headaches, sluggishness or low energy, lack of mental clarity, and sugar cravings can all come from being dehydrated. Your cup of herbal tea, non-caffeinated drinks, or the fruits and vegetables you eat can all count towards your water content too. Here at BTG we talk about the importance of eating good sources of protein for our neurotransmitter health or mood repairing and stabilizing forces. It can be tempting during the holiday to eat a bunch of junk food but it will do nothing for your mood or your cravings. Doing things like skipping a meal, or not including protein can lower your resilience or the ability for you to handle what life is throwing at you. In this article, we’ll explore the nuances of addiction during the holiday season and guide you in finding hope and support.
- However, you can be alone and not feel lonely, and you can feel lonely even when you are not alone.
- Recovery is a parallel process that is not linear – relapse is often part of recovery, and gains made can be eclipsed in the process.
- The holidays, rather than acting as a time for us to come together, can magnify the ways in which addiction has torn us from friends and family over the years.
- This time each year can be stressful for anyone, but the holidays present a special challenge for people recovering from an addiction.
- Boundaries are often created in an attempt to manage relapse triggers.
For some, this may be a fun option, but it can be triggering for others. Loved ones in early recovery are working on new habits and lifestyle changes. Despite best intentions, a drink that creates a desire for alcohol or its effects might inadvertently reinforce beliefs that alcohol is needed in order to enjoy oneself. Managing your emotions and communicating your boundaries is key to staying calm and preventing a potential relapse. Emotional flooding occurs when you’re upset and can make you feel overwhelmed.
- Staying connected to sober routines can help manage these adjustments, and those in early recovery in particular may need that added structure to help them stay balanced and lower risk of relapse.
- Seeing other people post their holiday pictures invites comparisons that breed shame, blame and loss.
- If you have specific concerns or a situation arises in which you require medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified medical services provider.
- The simple idea of going holiday shopping can be stressful on its own.
- When all members of the family readjust and reconnect in healthy ways, the odds of the loved one in recovery maintaining gains will improve.
If you previously viewed the holidays as a time of parties and indulgence, it can be helpful to amend your point of view so that you look at the holidays as a time of connection and re-connection. Spending time with family members and friends can make you feel uncomfortable, stressed, and almost on-the-edge. Your friends and family at Lighthouse https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Recovery Institute will be here to help you navigate these stressful days.
- It should be noted, though, that these beverages generally do include small amounts of alcohol.
- For people in the early stages of recovery from alcohol addiction, these beverages should be avoided.
- By communicating your needs and asking for space, you can help your family create a festive holiday environment that is also healthy and supportive for your recovery.
- Seize this wonderful opportunity to cultivate joy and connect with loved ones while also caring for your mental health.
Triggers can also be completely independent of substance use, such as experiencing relational conflict with a partner. However, one thing that all triggers have in common is that they trigger emotional distress, which can lead to an emotional relapse. Here are some key insights and actionable tips from our discussion to help make this holiday season into meaningful and sober celebrations. Getting through the end-of-year holidays while maintaining recovery, especially for people newer to this life-changing process, is an important accomplishment—one worthy of celebration in its own right. It’s important to know that the holidays don’t have to feel like a celebration. You can give yourself permission to simply be where you are emotionally.
Overcoming Holiday Triggers – Tips & Tools for Recovery That Works!
You deserve to feel joy at this time of year just like everyone else, so keep these tips in mind as you navigate your way through the holiday season and through your early recovery. Sober living home Lastly, individuals in recovery must address sober networking opportunities to protect their sobriety throughout the holidays. In addition to support groups, there are likely a plethora of sober holiday events and gatherings taking place in communities across the United States. Social networking during treatment and recovery is valuable because social support helps to prevent relapse. Additionally, social support can help individuals feel less alone in their sobriety journey, especially for those without family support.
Holiday Survival Tips for Those in Recovery
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. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of drugs to the FDA. If you slipped on your recovery journey during the holidays, remember that a relapse doesn’t define you.