Although there are times, and this goes for the newly sober right up to folks with lots of sobriety under their belt, when you’ll need to remember there are choices. Giving in and drinking or drugging is not a mandatory way to conquer the holidays any more. There are some steps that can be taken to help avoid a lapse or relapse. Some old-timers, recovering addicts who have been at sobriety for a while, know these already. For those with new sober eyes they should do what they can to place themselves in no to low-risk situations.
Question: What sort of situations might come up during the holidays and how can I prevent them?
Answer: The holiday times do tend to be filled with parties, one after the other. A really good tip is to create a backup plan. A number of parties during this time, whether they are at a friend’s, work locale, or even a family obligation, can make both the short term and long term recovering addict feel rather apprehensive. If possible, line up a bud that has long time sobriety to go with you, but if that is not possible, get a few numbers from friends because sometimes the desire to drink or drug can get rough and you’ll need to call someone to talk or to come meet you.
Question: How long should I stay?
Answer: Setting a limited time to stay at a party is always a good idea. If you have multiple parties to attend, plan to stay for maybe thirty minutes at each, or an hour. Again, it depends on the amount of parties. Also, be sure to park at the end of a block and not in the driveway where someone can inadvertently block your vehicle. Trying to leave a party and not being able to can be very stressful.
It is also important to remember that not everyone is going to understand what you are going through. So, think twice about talking to someone at a party who is drinking. More often than not they will not be able to find empathy with your situation.
Following these few party guidelines should help set you up for a fun and focused holiday season.
Because we know that this time of year can be particularly difficult, D’amore Healthcare is offering up its regular residential service hours during the holiday season. If you have any questions regarding help for yourself or a loved one please contact our admissions department 24 hours a day at 714.375.1110 or fill out the contact form.
