Tips for Your First Sober Holiday Season

Even after finding sobriety, there are still many challenges that must be faced.

Your first holiday season sober can be a difficult one, but it doesn’t have to be so challenging. At Banyan Detox Stuart, we understand that the first holiday season post-treatment can be a tricky one with triggers, challenging family situations, and newfound sobriety that requires hard work. Here is what to expect for your first sober holidays, and tips for a sober holiday season.

What to Expect Your First Sober Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time of excess, with many holidays centering around alcohol consumption. When you’ve completed drug and alcohol treatment in Stuart and you’re now sober, what can you expect? Here is what you can expect for your first sober holiday season.

First, you can expect things to be awkward. There is no way around it, but a little awkwardness is not the end of your happy holidays. You can expect your loved ones to be supportive, and you can expect some growing pains as you adjust to sober holidays. With the right perspective and honesty, you can have a great first sober holiday season after completing drug and alcohol treatment in Stuart.

Tips for a Sober Holiday Season

The professionals at our drug and alcohol detox in Stuart have put together some holiday season sobriety tips. Here are tips to help you through your first sober holiday:

• Be honest with your loved ones. You should be proud of your recovery, and you should be honest about your journey. When your family realizes that you’re not toasting with alcohol at dinner because you’ve worked so hard to get sober, they’ll support you wholeheartedly.
• Manage your expectations. Disappointment can be common during the holidays, especially when we set high standards for ourselves. Manage your expectations of your family and the holidays. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
• Make new traditions. If it’s too triggering to face old holiday traditions, consider making new traditions that you can enjoy with your sobriety.
• Stay connected to your sober support system. It is important to keep your sober support system close by during these times. If a family gathering gets to overwhelming or you have to make an early exit from a party, you’ll want other recovering people to turn to.
• Have a plan. Even though you have gotten sober, other family members may still enjoy an alcoholic beverage during the holidays. If the presence of alcohol begins to trigger you, it is important to have a plan in place to handle these situations. Call someone from your support system, attend a local meeting, or plan to meet with sober friends if an instance such as this arises.