The festive season is full of celebrations and fun, but it can present many challenges and difficult times to stay in recovery this Christmas.
With many parties and events to work around, there can be lots of opportunities for a relapse.
While you might think it best to avoid celebrating the festive season altogether, it’s best to continue socialising and spend time building back your relationships with your loved ones in recovery.
By making sure there are certain actions in place and loved ones there to support you, the Christmas holiday season can be a fun time even when in recovery.
Follow these tips to help you to stay in recovery this Christmas.
The festive period is full of loose schedules, with late-night social gatherings and lazy days recovering the night before, but you should try to stick to having a normal structure to your day.
The more your normal routine slides, the higher the risk of a relapse back to old habits.
Try to get up for breakfast at the same time, and make space in your day for some exercise, even if it’s just a short walk.
Go to bed at your normal time, wherever possible and make sure you remember to unwind from socialising and celebrating.
The more you try to stick to your structure, the easier it will be to stay in recovery this Christmas.
You can also practise the art of meditation, to help you to relax after potentially uncomfortable situations. Even a 10-minute meditation can help calm your mind and blood pressure.
If you need to say no to an event that is likely to risk your sobriety, then that’s what’s necessary to do. Don’t feel like you have to say yes just because it’s the holidays. [1]
If you need to remain at home one night when you’re feeling overwhelmed, or if you need to leave a holiday party early that is perfectly fine.
Others might not realise how difficult having an addiction is and how hard it is to control. You alone know how you’re feeling during this challenging time and what is best for you.
Always do what is best for your recovery and what potential triggers there might be. [2]
Especially during the holidays, it’s vital to keep connected with those you met in recovery and those in your support networks.
This could be at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, or any other 12-step meetings and recovery groups.
You can help support each other and share encouragement during the difficult Christmas period. It can be helpful to know there are others out there who share the same thoughts and feelings. [3]
Make sure you still attend your recovery meetings or any therapy sessions, as it’s important to make a continued effort to show up.
You can always go to a few extra meetings if you feel that would be helpful for your recovery journey during this time. Alcoholics Anonymous put on extra meetings during the Christmas period in case you need extra support. [4]
If things get too much at a party or family event, it’s fine to leave early. There is no need to feel any peer pressure to stay. [5]
It can be helpful to have a pre-arranged exit plan or escape plan in place with a loved one or someone close to you. This way you’ll have support in case you have a relapse trigger during holiday celebrations, start to panic or make any rash decisions.
Christmas is the ultimate holiday of traditions. However, you might feel like you’re missing out on certain traditions that you’re unable to take part in due to being in recovery from addiction.
Instead, you should try creating new traditions that you can repeat each year you’re in recovery.
Some traditions could be drinking hot cocoa in front of the fire on Christmas Eve, starting Boxing Day with a fresh walk, or even writing a letter to yourself to remind yourself of your achievements in recovery.
When you’re in recovery, it can be easy to start getting anxious or forget who you are.
But, once you begin to find yourself again, you’ll notice that you can be yourself and have fun without needing a drink or any drugs.
There are also many non-alcoholic beverages that you can celebrate with at social events.
Most of all, while the Christmas period is special, the days are just like every other day.
Focus on the day you are in and go forward “one day at a time”.
If you require further advice and support to stay in recovery this Christmas season, get in touch with our dedicated team here at Rehab 4 Addiction at 0800 140 4690.
We can support you if you are struggling to stay in recovery this Christmas and need any further addiction treatment.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553654/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6361736/
[3] https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction
[5] https://www.aa.org/the-big-book
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
