Holidays

Recovery is a transformative experience where each person can set future goals and discover new practices that can lead to a new, sober lifestyle. However, recovery is challenging and requires a great deal of commitment.  Nothing about overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol is easy, and coping with the anxiety, depression, or withdrawal symptoms that accompany the process can add even more hurdles. Despite the difficulty, recovery is always possible. However, it demands that each individual be willing to commit themselves wholly to their transformation both inside and outside the recovery sphere.

The year 2020 was a total rollercoaster. But we made it through, and are looking ahead to what comes next in 2021. Now that the holidays are over and the ball has dropped in Times Square, your thoughts may be turning to New Year’s resolutions and how you can make positive changes that are good for you going forward. Whether you want to be more present or reconnect with friends and family, each step you take toward the version of yourself that you want to be can be looked at as a part of your recovery. Recovery is most often defined as the process of restoring your body and mind to an optimal state of health. This includes rediscovering pieces of yourself that may have gotten lost along the way. As we say goodbye to 2020, we’ve outlined SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) 10 Guiding Principles of Recovery to help you on your quest for healing and self-discovery in the new year so that you can make meaningful progress toward your goals with a clear focus and vision.

It is common to feel like an outcast from your inner circle when you first enter treatment and recovery. The causes are varied. Perhaps loved ones also have alcohol or substance use disorders, or all your friends hang out in settings where alcohol is readily available. Maybe you are simply not aware of many sober activities in your area. Many people who are early on their path of recovery have yet to experience any kind of sober experiences before having the experience of becoming sober themselves. It is important to note that there is plenty to be experienced in a sober lifestyle. Though the normalcy around alcohol is rampant, life in recovery can be delightful, healthy, exciting, and fulfilling.

With the holiday season now at our doorstep, the expectation of giving our loved ones the best gift possible comes along with it. Gift-giving can bring so much joy and, in the same breath, feel very challenging, depending on who it's for and what the person means to us. Being particular about giving gifts to our loved ones in recovery is important because we want to make sure that our present doesn’t risk their sobriety while also supporting their new life.

To say 2020 has been challenging feels like an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to focus on anything other than simply surviving. Which in a way, is what the entire process of recovery and healing can sometimes feel like, too.  In 2020 we had to persevere on our own, learning how to live in isolation in a healthy and sustainable way. We have experienced many joyous and gratifying moments too, but it can feel difficult to pinpoint them during such peculiar times. We now have the holidays and winter season approaching, with new challenges including the anticipation of another lockdown looming ahead. Under these circumstances, it is important to recognize we are not alone. We never are, even when it feels like it.

The holiday season can be a joyful and loving, but also a confusing and sometimes challenging, time of year. For anyone newly in recovery, the season can feel particularly demanding. Navigating everyday life can feel difficult, let alone the holidays.  This time of year invites overindulgence as pleasure, which is quite the opposite of what sobriety looks like. We may also face complicated dynamics within our family that trigger us or people close to us that don’t respect our boundaries and needs within recovery. The good news is that sobriety is always possible, no matter the circumstance, and there are a few tips to follow that may help during the sometimes turbulent season of joy.

Each year, Valentine’s Day reels in billions of dollars. On average, each person in the United States spends over $100 on jewelry, cards, chocolates and more. So many gifts are given on this day, especially as those in relationships seek to show their love by offering each other meaningful gifts and tokens of their affection.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you may be hearing a lot of talk about love, romance, and relationships. Typically, Valentine’s Day is a holiday meant to celebrate that special someone. If you’re not presently in a relationship, chances are that days like these might leave you feeling a little left out. Seeing seemingly happy relationships all around you, maybe you find yourself wondering if it’s time you sought one out for yourself. If you’re in recovery from addiction, however, the answer to this question can be a bit more complicated, as there are many more factors to consider.

Whether you’re hosting, attending, or neither, New Year’s can bring about stress. On top of cooking or hosting a party with friends and family that you may not have seen for a long time, it can also be stressful to think of all the goals that you’d like to accomplish this upcoming year – especially if you have anxiety and a fear of failure. With the right mindset however, anxiety and stress does not have to hold you down at the start of this next year. Here are several wonderful tips that you can use to get through it and stay focused on your addiction recovery:

Whether you’re in recovery or not, you may be trying to figure out what you’re going to do for Christmas or New Years. Both of these holidays can bring about a lot of stress and anxiety if you hold certain expectations about the holiday and how it should go. Many people enjoy going out to eat with their friends or significant other, while others may decide to host something at home or even make themselves dinner at home and relax. No matter what you decide to do for the holidays this year, make sure you boost your recovery by incorporating the following foods into your diet:

Along with the holidays comes planning gatherings, cooking meals, buying gifts for friends and family, decorating the house, getting together with loved ones, talking about daily lives, driving to and from places, and much more. Many aspects of the holidays can be stressful; if you’ve recently lost ties with family members because of addiction, or if you’re in addiction recovery and find it hard to celebrate with friends and family for Christmas as you usually do, the stress and anxiety can really pack on. Mindfulness is a wonderful technique that can help you stay grounded, focused, and relaxed – try these mindful tricks to help you through the holiday season:

So many things happen on Christmas. Parties, dancing, food, music, games – with so much going on, it’s easy for those in addiction recovery to feel overwhelmed. While Christmas time can be a wonderful time to spend with friends and family, there are many physical and psychological risks that can take place. By remaining aware of how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking and what it is you need, you’ll be able to ensure that you have an excellent holiday. Keep the following reminders in mind: