Surviving the Holidays: Tips for Staying Healthy and Sober
If we missed anything you’d like to add, write us in the comments. “Biological differences in chemistry and body structure lead most women to absorb more alcohol than men,” explains Dr. Zoucha. All-inclusive means food, drinks, activities and entertainment are included in the cost of your trip. After years of offering flights, we have found that it is both easier & cheaper for you to arrange your flights yourself. Bear in mind that most destinations/hotels have standard check-in times of between 3p – 4p and check out between 10a – 11a.
Graduate School of Addiction Studies
Choosing the right treatment center can be paramount in one’s chance at recovery. While the treatment facility creates a foundation of tools needed for recovery, it is truly the individual, and not the addiction treatment center that determines the end result. When it comes to yourself or a loved one, you are going to want to make sure to choose a facility that has professional accreditations. The transition from addiction to sobriety can be hard, however, at our drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, we guide each client through the process – step by step. Staying sober during the holidays is a rewarding achievement that can strengthen your commitment to a healthier and happier life.
Careers – Join Our Team
A man and a woman drinking two identical alcoholic beverages will not have the same reactions. Instead of gazing longingly at mom’s mulled wine or sipping on champagne as the clock strikes midnight, create some sober traditions. As an sober holidays example, you could cook a special family recipe and share it with friends, host a cookie-baking competition, or have a holiday movie marathon. In the midst of all the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s easy to neglect your own needs.
Resources For Staying Sober During The Holidays
Knowing which foods and food groups support your mood and give you energy is crucial to navigating the holidays, when people typically go heavy on sweets, carbs, or saturated fats. One of the best strategies for preventing a relapse is to identify your triggers and come up with strategies for either managing or avoiding those personal triggers when possible. If you are dreading the upcoming holiday or holiday season, being proactive can help. Thanksgiving is known for being a holiday that features a lot of food, as well as drinking for those who don’t abstain from alcohol.
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- Many spouses & partners are not members join us on our Sober Vacations and have a blast.
- Most people with addiction expect their upside-down world to immediately turn right side up.
- Finally, the holidays have a way of bringing forth emotional memories and unresolved issues.
Feel confident that the best years of your life lie ahead of you. The 12-step programs (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous) offer many promises. Life will take on a new meaning, and you will know happiness like you have never known before. Sober Holidays Tip #14 Bring recovery reading when you travel.
- “Attend gatherings with a friend who’s also sober or understands your journey,” Sultan said.
- And, bring the address of the nearest AA meeting, just in case.
- Put together, these conditions may cause people to revert to old habits.
- Writing down your plans ahead of time can give you a roadmap for what to do when and if you encounter specific situations.
- You may find yourself missing loved ones you have lost or who live far away.
The better you feel physically, the stronger you will be emotionally. Nourish your spirit, too, through personal reflection and connection with those you love. Find some quiet time each day for relaxation and meditation—if only for a few minutes, no matter how busy you are. On top of that, you can’t attend your home group meeting, and you haven’t heard from your sponsor in two days.
Indulge in Nonalcoholic Holiday Drinks
In reality, however, for many people it can be a difficult time, triggering feelings of depression and anxiety as well as powerful urges to escape, use substances, and/or act out. For many of us, alcohol plays a bigger role in December holiday festivities than we’d like. Often, we feel the consequences once the merriment subsides, and swear we’ll do things differently next year—but it’s harder than we expect. Some of us have even sworn off alcohol completely, and are dreading the constant temptations and explanations that come with the holidays.
Which Holidays Are Tough For People In Recovery?
