Holiday Gatherings in Recovery: Stay Sober & Manage Triggers

Setting goals for the holiday, such as creating new traditions or volunteering, can shift attention away from triggers and foster positive feelings. Remember, it’s okay to alter or skip certain gatherings to protect your recovery. Your well-being is the priority, and managing social pressures effectively gives you a more joyful and stress-free holiday experience. The holiday season offers a unique opportunity for individuals in recovery to reaffirm their commitment to sobriety while creating joyful memories.

Your recovery network becomes your lifeline during the holiday season. Attending recovery meetings before, during, or after holiday events keeps you grounded and connected to your purpose. Many 12-step programs schedule special meetings on major holidays, recognizing that these are high-risk times for relapse. You can find meetings on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and Thanksgiving—times when isolation and temptation peak. Extend invitations to others in recovery to join your holiday celebrations. Creating your own support network within family gatherings strengthens everyone’s commitment to sobriety while building meaningful connections that extend beyond the holidays.

Resources

Contact us today to learn how we can support your journey to a healthier, substance-free season. Westwind Recovery® provides comprehensive support for individuals aiming to stay sober during the holiday season, offering resources and programs that help navigate seasonal challenges. Their structured approach includes personalized therapy, group counseling, and holiday programming to address triggers and maintain focus on recovery. The holiday season, while joyful, can be challenging for those working to stay sober.

Develop a Relapse Prevention Plan

You can say “no” to events that make you feel unsafe or limit how long you stay. You don’t have to take part in every holiday custom or every toast. If a conversation goes back to the past, think about how you’ll answer or gently steer it in a different direction. Having a script in your head, such as “That’s not a conversation I want to have tonight,” can help you stay sober and keep your peace. First, look ahead and plan what you need to do throughout the holidays. Make a list of every party, get-together, and even low-key hangout.

• Setting clear boundaries is crucial when dealing with family pressure to drink during Christmas.
• Mindfulness during holidays becomes your anchor when emotions run high.

The Connection Between Luxury Rehab and Long-Term Sobriety Success

Staying connected with your support system is crucial when maintaining sobriety while traveling. Regular contact with people who understand your journey can provide emotional stability and accountability. Take a moment to acknowledge the challenges you’ve overcome and the strength you’re building now. Write a gratitude list, send thank-you notes, or treat yourself to something meaningful that supports your sobriety.

This positive reinforcement can strengthen your commitment and provide motivation during difficult times. If you’re at a party or event that’s making you uncomfortable, having a plan to leave early can help you avoid temptation. Whether it’s a quick excuse or having your ride already lined up, an exit strategy is key.

• Alcohol-free options that go beyond a can of soda have taken off on airlines as well—at least in the front of the plane.
• Recognize when you’re neglecting your emotional, physical, or psychological well-being, and take steps to address those needs.
• Engage in friendly competition with timed runs or distance challenges.
• Committing to attend a meeting during your trip can help reinforce your sobriety goals and provide a familiar routine in an unfamiliar setting.
• Connecting with a support network—whether through therapy, support groups like AA or NA, or trusted friends—provides emotional reinforcement.

Depending on our life circumstances, we book them around school holidays and/or our work calendar. We might have something specific in mind that we would like to do or a place we would like to visit. Generally, holidays are viewed as time away from the routine of everyday life, having fun with those closest to us, and returning home rejuvenated.

What are sober holidays?

• Focus on both big and small aspects of your trip and sobriety journey.
• But it can also be a very stressful time, particularly for people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.
• Pay attention to specific situations that make you uncomfortable—maybe it’s visiting certain family members, attending religious services, or even hearing particular holiday songs.
• A “Dry Holiday” is a holiday or celebration where alcohol is intentionally excluded or avoided.

Put your foot down regarding things you don’t want to do but be nice about. Try downloading one of these five mindfulness apps, or simply try meditating for at least five minutes per day. When stress comes knocking you may find it much easier to separate yourself from your thoughts, and not react. Mindfulness is one particularly helpful strategy to combat stress.

Certain people, places, and activities may cause excess stress or remind you too much of the time before you were sober, and the holidays are generally full of these. For those working on their sobriety, managing these emotions is even more important. For most people, the holidays are a time of joy and celebration.

You don’t want to change your focus to thoughts of your drinking or using days. Behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction and shopping addiction, can also be triggered during the holiday season and frequently co-occur with drug and alcohol use issues. They also might involve drinking, which people in recovery from alcohol addiction often find to be another trigger. Winter holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve may involve stress, which for people in recovery, Sober living home can be a trigger.

• One of the most effective ways to cope with holiday stress is planning ahead.
• This might mean declining invitations to gatherings where alcohol is the focus or setting limits on the time you spend at certain events.
• There are plenty of sober holiday traditions that you and your loved ones can create together to strengthen your recovery.
• Staying connected with your support system is crucial when maintaining sobriety while traveling.
• In addition to these emotional challenges, the financial and logistical stress of gift shopping, travel, and a packed holiday schedule can leave little time for self-care or reflection.
• Browse our directory or reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery.

Addiction triggers can differ from person to person, but they generally fall into a few common categories. These triggers can lead to cravings or relapses, especially for individuals in recovery. Dove Recovery offers a variety of therapy programs designed to work with your specific needs and schedule. Our counseling and therapies give you professional guidance designed to help you on the journey to recovery and give you the skills and support you need for relapse prevention. Recovery happens one day at a time, even — or maybe especially — during the holidays. While thinking about the holidays as a thing that looms large and may be full of triggers can cause anxiety, you’re only responsible for the day ahead of you.

Embracing self-care activities, such as reading, walking, or connecting with supportive friends, can reinvigorate one’s sense of control and tranquility. Seeking guidance from support networks or support groups during emotional challenges, during holidays can assist in reinforcing these boundaries effectively. By fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding, individuals can enjoy the holiday season without compromising their recovery journey.