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The holiday season can be especially challenging for people committed to staying sober from alcohol. For many, staying sober during the holidays brings unique challenges as social gatherings may raise worries about urges, pressure from friends or reminders of earlier habits. But with the right preparation and support you can survive the holidays with your sobriety intact.
Xavier Aguayo is a clinical therapist at Loma Linda University Behavioral Health. He explains that choosing sobriety often means adjusting to a new identity without relying on substances. This shift can offer encouragement by may also bring significant discomfort.
This is especially true when long-standing traditions or relationships involve drinking or using substances.
Keep Your Focus
To help people stay focused during the session, Aguayo offers guidance that’s centered on preparation and support. He suggests thinking through the nature of each event in advance.
This can be done by considering whether alcohol or other substances might be present and whether anyone at the event may apply pressure.
Noticing possible concerns early can allow the person to prepare an exit plan or bring their own beverages. This can also help you maintain your personal limits while remaining socially comfortable.
Find Your Tribe
Aguayo also highlights the importance of having friends who are dependable. Bringing a trusted person such as a supportive friend, sponsor or family member, can help the person to feel less alone.
Establishing a discreet signal before attending an event can provide a quick way to request space or help with leaving the event. Having someone who understands personal needs and goals can turn situations that might feel isolating into moments of strength and confidence and can even reinforce a sense of safety.
Set Boundaries
Aguayo notes that setting boundaries is another key element. Many individuals experience pressure from others. But turning down an unsafe gathering is an act of respect for one’s well-being. It’s also a critical strategy for preventing relapse.
Protecting rest, nourishment and stability may involve declining unfavorable situations or suggesting alternative plans that don’t involve exposure to substances. If others misunderstand or react poorly, Aguayo encourages people to focus on their own health, knowing they are making good choices.
Make Your Own Tradition
Traditions can be problematic. When traditions involve alcohol or substances, this can be threatening to a person’s health goals and recovery process. It’s absolutely okay to start new traditions that prioritize wellness from Sober October to sober Thanksgiving and Christman. Traditions like these can help individuals in recovery stay connected while also staying aligned to their own convictions.
Hold Onto Hope
Aguayo also discusses creating new traditions that don’t revolve around substance use. Forming gatherings centered on sober activities can help people stay engaged while simultaneously honoring their own health.
He reminds individuals that choosing sobriety may feel like missing out but it also offers space to reflect on gratitude and see the season from a healthier perspective.
Find Your Own Sober Safety Net This Holiday Season
If you’re struggling to stay sober this holiday season, support is available. Find local or online AA meetings, connect with peer support groups in your area or call
800-948-8417
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for confidential support.
Recovery doesn’t pause for the holidays and neither does help. Download the Sober App today to stay mindful of habits, emotions, and progress during high stress times.
Beth is a freelance writer specializing in mental and behavioral health and addiction recovery. With a background in psychology, she’s committed to creating informative and compelling copy that helps readers change their lives for the better.
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