The holidays can be a stressful time during recovery. Whether you are in the middle of treatment or have recently completed your addiction treatment plan, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve can challenge your sobriety. You may experience triggers that generally don’t affect you. Alternatively, you might decide to spend time with certain people or visit places to celebrate the holidays.
Shopping, financial problems, family conflict, and busy schedules can cause stress, which leads to anxiety or depression. These types of mental health issues can render you vulnerable to relapse. Overall, the holidays can affect your mood, stress levels, and your outlook on your recovery. If you are not prepared to handle the holidays, they can influence sobriety. To learn more about how to manage your sobriety this year, contact Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida today at 866.294.5306.
5 Ways the Holidays Influence Sobriety
1. Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression typically occurs during the seasons’ changing, more specifically, the fall and winter seasons. This also happens to be the time of year that three of the biggest holidays occur. You may believe that your depression is caused by the holiday season, when in fact, it is caused by SAD. However, the combination of SAD and the holidays can hurt your sobriety.
2. Holiday Celebrations
If your social calendar fills up quickly during the holiday season, you may want to rethink which parties you will be attending this year. Try to avoid celebrations that contain alcohol or other overt triggers that can lead to a relapse. If you want to party this year without the temptation to drink or take drugs, you may want to find out what support groups or addiction treatment centers, start planning this year for the holidays. You may be better off celebrating with others who are also on the road to recovery.
3. Lack of Recovery Support
Once you complete your substance abuse detox program, you will need support to stay clean and achieve your recovery goals. Lack of support leaves you wide open to relapse. Before you head into the holidays, try to put together a support network that will encourage your sobriety. Your network may include:
- Continued therapy
- Support group
- Alumni program
- Telehealth services
- Sober living house
Speak with your therapist about which services or resources are available in your area. Your support network may also include family, friends, a life coach, minister, or someone in the community who is a positive influence.
4. Finances
Holiday shopping can cause you to spend money that you usually wouldn’t have any other time of the year. Blowing your monthly budget creates more stress than you can handle. This year, you need to set a budget and get more creative with Christmas presents. You may have to shorten your Christmas list. However, you will relieve stress and avoid problems associated with the holidays and sobriety.
5. Loneliness
Once you complete your individual therapy program, you may lose touch with friends or family who are not necessarily on board with your recovery. This reaction can create challenges with the holidays and sobriety, as you may feel that you are more alone this season. However, you may quickly discover that other people support your decision to get clean and would love to spend the holidays with you. Avoid isolation, as it leads to relapse. Instead, get out, make new friends, and rediscover the season without drugs or alcohol.
Learn How to Achieve Sobriety at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida
If you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction during the holidays, you can get the help you need to get clean and stay clean for life. Call Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida at 866.294.5306, or contact us online to find out more about our treatment options. We can help you achieve sobriety and break the cycle of addiction.
