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Preparing for a Sober Holiday Season

Sydney Schulz on December 23, 2021 at 7:58 AM


By Jan Hicks


This time of year, the holiday spirit lurks behind every corner. Everyone looks forward to Christmas, preparations are being made for New Year's Eve, and the excitement is almost tangible. However, not everybody seems to be aware of the somewhat less-jolly side of this period that many people experience. For those in recovery, the holiday season usually presents a challenge rather than a festive time of gatherings and celebrations. The end of the year comes with an abundance of customs and traditions, many of which can be highly triggering for people actively working on their sobriety. And since resisting temptation is easier said than done, preparing for a sober holiday season is imperative. Here's how you can ensure success on your path.


Visit your support group more frequently

Support groups and counseling sessions are an integral part of the recovery journey. With that said, it makes sense to include them into your routine more frequently during a period you expect to be stressful. This way, you'll be able to talk about your experiences and meet others who might be better versed than you when it comes to handling the holidays. The insights you will gain will surely help you understand and overcome temptations more easily.


Moreover, it's always encouraging to know that you are not going through it all alone. Never underestimate the importance of a sound support system!


Don’t be afraid to set boundaries

Not everyone in your surroundings will be able to understand what you are going through. You must prepare for people trying to persuade you to relax a little or have just one drink, be it an overly-curious aunt, a pushy uncle, or a careless colleague. Even though these kinds of encounters can be highly uncomfortable, setting firm boundaries and sticking to them is crucial. Don't think too much about hurting someone's feelings - your journey toward sobriety is a very brave and personal one, and those who don't take it seriously probably aren't even worth your time.


Stay away from triggers if and when you can

Avoiding triggering situations is not always doable. If it were, much fewer people would struggle with staying sober. However, sometimes you can predict a potentially tempting event and do your best to stay away from it. While resisting intrusive thoughts and wrong moves is an excellent sign of progress in recovery, it's not always necessary to put yourself through those challenges.

So, if you know that a specific event will be centered around alcohol, for example, simply cut your appearance short or avoid it altogether. Similarly, try to hang out with other sober people at parties or position yourself as far away from the bar as possible.


Come prepared

Most tips revolving around preparing for a sober holiday season are pretty abstract. Still, there is one very concrete thing you can do to help yourself during this period. Stock up on your favorite non-alcoholic drinks! You can bring them to parties or keep them in your fridge so that you always have an alternative when drinking is involved. Moreover, no one will offer you a drink if you already have one in your hand!


Relapsing because of a lack of options is actually more common than most people think, so make sure to never put yourself in this position.


Distract yourself by helping others

What better way to distract yourself from temptations than by focusing on helping others? After all, the holidays are the time of giving and sharing, and your contribution, no matter how small, will surely make someone happy.


Volunteering in a soup kitchen or animal shelter, donating to people in need, or working with underprivileged children are all great options you can explore. Not only will this keep you preoccupied, but you will also make someone else's holidays more joyful, and there really is nothing more rewarding than that.


Ask for help

Sometimes, a friendly helping hand is all you need to power through stressful situations. Just think about it - if you were to move during this season, you would surely ask someone to help you with your Christmas relocation. Packing up your entire household is much easier with assistance from professional movers, for example. So why not take the same approach while trying to stay sober? All you need is a friend or even a sponsor who understands your journey and is willing to support you on it. By attending parties and events together, you will always have someone to lean on when things get tough.


Introduce new traditions

The holiday season comes with many potentially triggering scenarios and traditions. Alcohol and substance abuse seem to be an obligatory part of parties and gatherings, making this festive time especially challenging for those in recovery. 


But it doesn't have to be that way! No one says that you have to have a glass of wine with your Christmas dinner or greet the New Year with champagne. The best thing you can do for yourself is tailor the popular traditions to your needs. With a bit of help from your loved ones, try to come up with new holiday habits and rituals. This will surely make the holiday season all the more special and fun.


Final words

While preparing for a sober holiday season, it's essential to remember that avoiding triggers and temptations won't always be possible. What's important is to learn how to rise above them, be it with the help of a friend, by distracting yourself, or by coming prepared to parties and gatherings. The strategies mentioned above seem to work for most individuals in recovery. However, if they turn out less effective for you, make sure not to get discouraged. Everyone's journey is unique, and finding the right approach might require a bit of effort. In the meantime, surround yourself with support and enjoy the holidays as much as possible!


By Jan Hicks

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