Going home for the holidays can be wonderful, especially for a recovering addict looking for a little extra support.
Unfortunately, although they may now have their family to lean on, not every aspect of going home this holiday season is good for the recovery process. Drug triggers could be lurking around every corner and a relapse is possible.
6 Relapse Prevention Tips For The Holidays That Could Save Your Sobriety
Although you may be feeling a bit apprehensive, you do not have to fear going home. At Banyan Pompano, we are sharing our favorite tips for relapse prevention this holiday season so that you can enter the New Year still drug- and alcohol-free.- Don’t overdo it. The holiday season is filled with parties, events, and commitments. Trying to attend everything can be exhausting and for someone in recovery, dangerous. One of the best ways to stay sober during the holidays is to avoid over exasperating yourself. Especially if you are starting to feel overwhelmed or the event may have drug triggers, it is okay to say no.
- Be honest with your family. In order to avoid relapsing during the holidays, you should lean on your family for support. If you are starting to feel overwhelmed or triggered by something, let your family know. If you just got done with alcoholism treatment and are uncomfortable with the liquor bottles sitting on the kitchen counter, let them know. If you don’t think you can handle the annual Christmas Eve party, be honest. Tell them what you need from them in order to stay sober.
- Avoid old drug triggers. Going home could put you face to face with some old drug triggers. This could be anything from the park where you used to smoke marijuana to the friends that you used to party with. You should mentally prepare yourself to face these but do your best to avoid them.
- Take time for yourself. The holiday blues are real, and unfortunately, when you are not feeling your best mentally, it can lead to relapse. When you start to feel too stressed or overwhelmed, do not be afraid to excuse yourself. Take a walk, take a bath, meditate, or journal. Do whatever you need to do to get back to feeling okay.
- Keep a healthy routine. Maintaining a healthy routine is an important part of staying sober during the holidays when life gets a little chaotic. Continue your exercise habits, eat healthy, and go to bed on time. Try to attend local addiction meetings or relapse prevention programs if you can.
- Skip the party events. Especially if you are in early recovery, you should be prepared to skip the annual wild Christmas party or the crazy family shenanigans. These events could be too much to handle and cause a relapse. Instead, find a trusted friend and go to the movies or a local family-friendly holiday event.
If you follow these tips for relapse prevention this holiday season, you have a much better chance of making it through drug and alcohol-free. If you do relapse, that is okay. Just get help immediately, like with our addiction stabilization program in Pompano, so that you can enter the New Year back on track.
If you haven’t started your recovery journey yet, do not wait. Reach out to us at 888-280-4763 to learn more and get started.
Alyssa, Director of Digital Marketing
Alyssa is the National Director of Digital Marketing and is responsible for a multitude of integrated campaigns and events in the behavioral health and addictions field. All articles have been written by Alyssa and medically reviewed by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne.
