Sober Living: How to Prevent a Relapse During the Holidays

We look forward to the holidays each year as a time of joy and peace, a time to celebrate with family and friends while also recharging our batteries for the coming year. While those are the goals, there’s often plenty of stress in preparation and demands on our time. 

When you’re in recovery from an alcohol abuse disorder, there are other, deeper stresses. Chances are, celebration and drinking went hand-in-hand for many years of your life. 

New Spirit Health in Mesa, Arizona, knows the challenges you face. We’re here to offer some tips to help you protect your sobriety while still enjoying the ideals of the holiday season. We’re also here to help should you need a little extra support. 

Consider these strategies as part of your recovery self-management, incorporating those that fit your goals and lifestyle. Sometimes, a slight shift in perspective is enough to clear the hurdles you face. 

Know the warning signs of relapse

Relapse is not simply the moment you have that forbidden drink. It’s also an emotional process that leads you to that moment. That process has typical signs that can tip you off in time to alter your own thinking. These warning signs include: 

• Isolating yourself from others, both physically and emotionally
• Finding reasons to skip recovery meetings (perhaps using seasonal events or preparations as the excuse)
• Increasing your outward focus on others, suppressing your problems in favor of theirs
• Adverse changes in eating, exercise, or hygiene habits
• Bottling up your emotions
• Feeling overwhelmed by obligations, responsibilities, or demands on your time

Your sobriety often depends on your own self-care discipline. Any neglect from this mindset can be a sign that relapse is pending. 

Plan your reactions

It’s always tough to respond accordingly when facing unexpected events or situations. However, as part of getting sober, you now have insights about the predictable ways you might respond. Use that knowledge to protect yourself and your sobriety. 

Plan your support before the seasonal festivities start. Attend a recovery meeting, touch base with your sponsor and other recovering friends, make specific plans for how long you’ll attend particular gatherings, and be ready to excuse yourself from any event if you start to feel the presence of stress. 

Have a (non-alcoholized) drink in your hand

It’s a programmed social response for many to offer drinks to empty-handed people. Take the lead by equipping yourself first with your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. Drink only what you have prepared for yourself. Even well-meaning friends may forget your sober status. 

Retain your self-focus

The holidays are about giving, so there are moments when you’ll be tempted to suppress your needs for those of others. Draw a hard line, though, on suppressing any aspect of your sobriety care. Staying sober is not only a gift to yourself. It offers your loved ones a better version of you. 

John Risi FNP and the team at New Spirit Health are addiction medicine specialists who are standing by to partner with you in a successful recovery. If the need arises, call or click to schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. Happy Holidays!