Do you have substance abuse issues? You need to be aware that the holidays are a time where many people with substance abuse issues have a difficult time and may relapse into former substance abuse behaviors. Knowing this can help prepare you for the feelings you may have and the decisions you must make in order to keep your sobriety. Here are three tips that may help you in your quest.
Avoid Becoming Overly Tired
The holidays are a very busy time for most of us. Celebrations with family and friends are planned and attended. Many people celebrate by searching for special gifts for loved ones. Homes are decorated and special recipes are made. Trips out of town to see family and friends are planned and taken. On top of our already busy lives, adding these activities can leave us exhausted at the end of the day. Being overly tired may trigger the temptation to use substances to improve how you feel physically and mentally. Try and plan as far in advance as you can for the holidays. Make your plans early and buy those gifts before the last minute. The holidays will still be a busy time, but if you can pace yourself it will help. Losing your sobriety may require you to seek help at an addiction recovery center.Avoid Being Alone
Loneliness can also trigger the want to use substances to relieve the feelings we are having. While many of us do have friends and family to surround ourselves with during these times, others of us don't. Seeing others experiencing the love and comfort of family and friends can lead to loneliness and even depression. A great way to avoid this trigger is to help others by spreading joy . There are many organizations that need volunteers, especially around the holidays. Start by looking in your local community for someone to help. There are soup kitchens for the homeless or impoverished, organizations that provide Christmas gifts to needy families, organizations that cook and deliver meals to the elderly ,and many others that strive to help the community. By spreading joy, you can avoid this trigger that can lead to substance abuse.Avoid Being Around Substances
This may seem like common sense and easy to do, but sometimes it is harder to do around the holidays. The same parties that are planned and attended may include substances such as alcohol that need to be avoided. Those same parties may include family and friends that may not understand the health issues of addiction and don't understand that no, you can't have "just one." Being around the substances adds pressure that needs to be avoided during this already stressful time. You can find healthy alternatives that won't take your sobriety and will help you maintain your lifestyle.Knowing what to avoid and what to expect can help you maintain your sobriety and avoid relapse. But if there is a relapse, we can help. Our mission is GRATITUDE and DESIRE to Give You HOPE,HONESTY to Make the CHOICE, ACTION so Choice Becomes CHANGE,INTEGRITY to Bring Lasting FREEDOM, and SERVICE to Create Real MEANING. Don't go at it alone, we will help you succeed at our addiction recovery center.
About the Author:
Michelle Amerman is a licensed therapist and President of Pathways Real Life Recovery. Pathways is a mental health counseling and addiction recovery center in Utah. Her treatment approach is based on 30 years' worth of groundwork, and has been assessed and validated by pioneers in the field of recovery research.
Pathways Real Life Recovery
8706 South 700 East #205
Sandy, UT 84070
801-895-3006
