Amelia Elkins, LCSW, CAS
Family gatherings, work events, and friend parties may be starting to pile up and create stress around managing sobriety. On top of social events, the holidays may not feel like a joyful time due to negative family dynamics or lack of family. Having a plan and maintaining your sobriety goals are possible during the holidays with these steps:
Sober Support System: Who do you turn to when you’re feeling triggered or having thoughts of relapse? Identifying a few individuals for support is key. You may even give them a heads up that the holidays are a challenging time, and you would like to plan a sober get together or see if they’re open to being your contact person during this time. If you’re struggling to identify anyone, starting to attend AA or NA could be a great option as you would be assigned with a sponsor.
Boundaries: Check in with yourself before the event by asking these questions:
- Do I feel strong enough to not drink at this event?
- How will I handle not drinking at the event? Immediately go to the bar for a soda water? Avoid going out after a work dinner? Be honest if someone asks why I’m not drinking?
- Do I need to set a time limit of how long I’m at the event to prevent stress?
- Who are comfortable people to turn to at the event?
More on boundaries in recovery here.
Maintain Self-Care Plan: The holidays are an extra important time to maintain routines of healthy eating, exercise, journaling, and meditation for peak mental health. Looking for a sober focused gym? Check out The Phoenix in Denver to get involved with an active, sober community.
Lastly, therapy is a great way to develop a tailored, individualized plan to support recovery during the holidays. Reach out today to get started.