Calming activities, such as reading, meditating, and gratitude journaling, can be helpful if you don’t feel comfortable in social situations. In the northern hemisphere, the holidays coincide with winter’s lack of available sunlight. reframing holidays in early recovery Less exposure to natural light can lead to new or increased symptoms of depression. As much as possible, let your loved ones know how they can support you, whether it’s helping you with shopping or meeting up for a regular walk.

• While it’s true that many of us have friends and family to connect with during the holiday season, there’s also the danger of becoming isolated.
• Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
• ” If your tool kit is looking a little sparse, Guízar recommends trying a grounding technique for anxiety or mindful breathing exercise .
• This time of year, family members gather together, people go to work Christmas parties, we eat indulgent foods, and lots of gifts are exchanged.
• It is actually a rather common occurrence on the road to recovery.
• “Start gently, by committing to having lunch without your phone,” Hannah says.

These conversations, specifically around sobriety found during the pandemic and now tested in the aftermath, reminded me of the worries I had newly sober in 2017. Were life-changing reflections, made easier by the absence of an audience. Free to be curious without criticism, these people conducted the trials and errors of existing alcohol-free while accountable to no one but thy-own self. Then, ask them to hold you accountable for the next meal or snack. Ask them to distract you from thoughts of purging, exercise, or other damaging behaviors. Remain honest with them, and with anyone on your treatment team if you have one. Tell someone when you need help recommitting to recovery.

Reasons Productivity is Hard Right Now (and How to Stay Sober Anyway)

It’s how we used to get warmed up, a couple of drinks over the fire. As someone sober for a little over four years, the pandemic did not force me into a selective pod; it merely reinforced the one I had already been creating. I continued to participate in alcohol-free groups and communities where the populations grew during the clutches of COVID.

She combines movement and activism to inspire athletes who seek to liberate themselves from drinking culture. She’s working on a collection of essays, A Kaleidoscope of Discomfort, about grief, sobriety, sexuality, and running.

Get support to manage holiday addiction triggers

Unity Recovery – Offers free online recovery support meetings not specific to any fellowship on varying days and times. Meetings include Individual All Recovery, Families, LGBTQ+, Women, Mothers, and more. Those who are supportive of your recovery want to know what you need. Let a close friend know that you need an accountability partner to attend an event with you. Let family and friends know in advance that you won’t be drinking alcohol at the event.

Just like everyone else, you are a work in progress, and what matters is that you keep moving forward in your recovery and focus on taking one day at a time. If your family tends to uphold these types of traditions every year, you may want to talk to them about your recovery and see if you can create new traditions with them that don’t involve alcohol. Otherwise, it may be best to opt out of certain events, but that decision is up to you.

Reach Out To A Support System

You can’t actually gain weight by eating one specific type of food, or after one meal. Your body can’t drastically change in the span of one day. You might see yourself differently in the mirror, but that’s not the reality of the situation. Find at least one person who knows about and at least somewhat understands your eating disorder. Talk to them when you feel triggered, ask them to distract you when you need it, and walk away from a situation with them if you get too overwhelmed. Take advantage of other ways to connect, including sending out holiday cards and communicating with family and friends by phone, text, email, and social media.

There may be situations are not ready to handle, or become too triggering, and recognizing that is alright. Have alternative plans set up as a back up to be able to see nurturing and supportive friends.

Consider keeping your distance from triggering people on Thanksgiving.

Practice and plan out how you can challenge your thoughts. Plan for moments where you can be present and mindful of what you are doing. It is easy to be caught up in the holiday chaos and stress and forget how powerful living in the moment can be. This is part of practicing self-care and can include not attending or leaving early from a holiday event.

• Alternatively, people recovering from addiction may glamourize past holidays they spent drinking or using drugs with buddies, leading to unintentional rationalizing or relapse.
• The following steps will help you to begin to retake control over your life.
• Whether you are early in your career or a seasoned professional, McLean has resources to support you through a lifetime of helping patients succeed.
• “I don’t want to draw attention to myself; I feel like if I say no to a beer, my brother will make a huge deal of it.
• Be mindful of the stress and anxiety you’re feeling, especially when it comes to relationships.

As a psychotherapist, it’s easy for me to forget that not everyone has a therapist. It’s OK to feel worried, unsure, and scared, particularly with the stress you may be experiencing right now. Now might be a great time to reach out to a therapist to process your thoughts and feelings, and many are offering their expertise virtually. Check in with your therapist – if you haven’t already – to talk about what you may be experiencing.

Do not obsess over the holiday festivities.

Additionally, by finding out why you become anxious or sad around the holidays, you may be able to navigate the rest of the season. Being able to practice “I” statements and boundary setting with others can be powerful tools of self-care during the holidays.