For the majority of individuals in recovery, the holidays are a challenging point in their recovery. The holidays pose unique struggles and challenges to sobriety, so it can be helpful to have strategies to help prevent a relapse. Opportunities to engage in old, unhealthy behaviors are abundant during the holidays. Due to the general indulgence of the season, it’s often easier to partake in these activities without considering the long-term cost to you.
If you think you need help staying sober during the holiday season, Rockland Recovery can help. Our alcohol addiction treatment program may be the key for you to enjoy a sober holiday. Find out more about our alcohol addiction treatment in Massachusetts when you contact our team today by filling out our online contact form or calling 855.732.4842.
How an Alcohol Rehab Center Can Help with Sober Living
If you are struggling with sobriety, the first thing to do is seek out help. If you feel like you can’t do it alone, that is perfectly understandable and normal. Alcoholism is a disease, and asking for help is the right thing to do when you need it. Alcohol rehab centers help people detox and acclimate to the initial stages of recovery. They also represent a valuable lifelong resource on your recovery journey. Mental health treatment, 12-step programs, and after-rehab care can anchor and ground you when you feel at risk of slipping. Whether you are considering entering treatment for the first time or seeking help with your commitment to sobriety, an alcohol rehab center is the best way to get the alcohol addiction treatment you need.
A Sober Holiday Guide
Many practical tips can help you maintain your sobriety this holiday season.
Always Plan Ahead
Have a game plan ahead of time for parties and holiday get-togethers. Make sure you have your transportation, so you’re not waiting on someone else to leave. In the early stages of sobriety, it is often best to leave early. Stress and discomfort can trigger some people to drink, so know that it is perfectly acceptable to sit out a social event if you think it threatens your sobriety.
Prioritize Your Physical and Mental Health
There are many healthy habits you probably began to pay more attention to as you worked on becoming sober. The journey toward a better life doesn’t stop when you stop drinking. Continue developing these good habits. Healthy behaviors go hand in hand with sobriety. Some behaviors that can facilitate your continued sobriety include:
- Regular physical activity
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Picking up a new hobby
- Healthy eating
- Volunteering in the community
- Journaling
Keeping your health a priority will reduce stress and depression and limit self-soothing with unhealthy behavior.
Seek Out Support
Seek out support through a 12-step program or an after-rehab treatment program. The holidays are challenging, but they are especially challenging for those struggling with a substance abuse disorder. If you know your sobriety doesn’t feel as solid as it should, seek help as soon as possible. When you delay seeking out a stable support system, you’re threatening your success and increasing the risk of a relapse.
Avoid Relapse Triggers
The holidays can be an emotional rollercoaster. There are many possibilities for relapse triggers, and they vary from person to person. Only you know what your specific relapse triggers are, but the most common ones are related to stress, loneliness, disappointment, and conflict around the holidays.
Families often have problems that surface during the holiday season. Issues such as personal histories of trauma, long-term resentments, and clashing political views can stir emotions not present during other times of the year. If you know a person or place will test you in a way you aren’t sure you can handle yet, it is acceptable to stay away until you feel you’re ready.
Celebrate a Sober Holiday with Help from Rockland Recovery
At Rockland Recovery, we have many resources to assist you with sober living. Whether you need help to quit drinking or you anticipate a struggle with your sobriety as the holidays approach, we can help. Please get in touch with a representative at Rockland Recovery today by calling 855.732.4842 or completing our convenient online form. We have numerous treatment options available to fit your needs during the holiday season, so reach out to Rockland Recovery today.
