For most people, the holiday season marks the most wonderful time of the year. But for those who are in recovery, the holidays can present challenges that put sobriety on edge.

At Banyan Detox Stuart, we know that you can stay sober during the holidays and well beyond the season. After completing medically supervised drug and alcohol treatment in Stuart, patients complete the full recovery path. After they finish with inpatient and/or outpatient treatment, patients often head back home for the holidays. If you’re newly sober, the holidays can be a triggering time that puts your sobriety to the test. Here are tips for avoiding triggers over the holidays.

Know What You’re Facing. If you’re heading home for the holidays after finishing drug treatment and suboxone detoxification in Stuart, you may find certain people, places, songs, or other stimuli triggering. Prepare ahead of time by considering the people, places, and things that may trigger you. If you’re prepared, you won’t be as controlled by the trigger.

Keep Your Routine as Best You Can. You’ve developed a daily routine in your newfound sobriety, and keeping this routine can help reduce the power that any holiday stress may have. So, if you’re used to starting your morning with a run, continue that routine even during the holidays. Sticking to a routine can help you stay on track in recovery.

Develop a Support System. You should have a support system that you developed during your medically supervised drug and alcohol treatment in Stuart. But this support doesn’t end after you complete your stay at detox centers in Florida. You must continue working with these support systems long after treatment. This means staying in contact with your sponsor and attending local support groups, especially during the holidays.

Form New Traditions. Some triggers are simply too much to handle after getting sober with the help of drug, alcohol, and suboxone detoxification in Stuart. When this happens, it helps to form new traditions to replace the old triggering ones. Your friends, family, and loved ones will be supportive of developing new traditions that encourage your sobriety.

Be Kind to Yourself. Feeling tempted by a trigger does not mean you are a failure in your sobriety. Be kind to yourself and remember that recovery takes work. Some days will be easier than others.