The Holiday Season Temptations
Christmas parties…New Year’s Eve parties…these are times for family and friends, for celebrating–and for recovering substance abusers, holiday temptations.
There is far more acceptance of intoxication at this time of year. There can also be plenty of pressure to drink alcohol. Those who are in early recovery tend to struggle particularly hard. The holiday seasons can also be an emotional time when family tensions rise to the surface. Any sober individual who does not feel strong at this time of year will have no problem finding justifications to relapse.
This is often the favorite time of year for alcoholics. There are plenty of drinking events and their drunken exploits will be less censured. Those in recovery are likely to strongly associate the holiday season with drinking. During this time of the year, there will be constant reminders of what they are missing.
Temptations that Can Lead back to the Old Days
It’s also a time of holiday parties at work, where there can be plenty of alcohol available. Recovering alcoholics may feel pressured to drink as work colleagues encourage them to join in the fun. There may also be the justification that they deserve to have a few drinks because they have been working hard all year.
At this time of year, it’s also common to bump into people from the past. Old drinking buddies may tempt a sober individual to revisit the good old days. People in recovery can get a vicarious type of pleasure from watching others drink alcohol, but this is dangerous because it can lead back to the old ways of thinking.
Dealing with Family and Friends
Families will usually spend more time with each other during the holidays. There can be arguments and stress. People who are struggling with their sobriety may use this as an excuse to relapse. Conversely, if people are estranged from family and friends, or are alone during the holidays, they may find the holiday season to be a particularly lonely time. This can be another excuse to start drinking again.
Playing with Fire
It is recommended that people in early recovery try to completely avoid all social functions where alcohol is served. They may be able to handle it but going to these events could be considered too much of a risk; it’s like playing with fire.
Managing Temptations During the Holiday Season
The good news is that there are a number of ways that people in recovery can manage temptation during the holiday season:
- Those in AA may want to increase their attendance at meetings at this time of year, to gain support from other members and talk about any concerns. Attendance tends to be higher during the holidays, and there can be a great strength in numbers.
- There are usually plenty of events on during the holiday seasons where alcohol is not served. There are usually dances and social occasions specifically aimed at people in recovery. If there are no sober parties taking place locally, there is no reason why you can’t organize your own.
- Volunteer. Helping others is probably the most effective thing that anyone can do during the holiday season to protect their own sobriety. It allows the individual to move the focus away from their own problems, and it builds self-esteem because they feel they are doing something useful.
Dealing with a Slip During the Holiday Season
A slip occurs when a recovering alcoholic drinks on the spur of the moment. If a recovering alcohol or substance abuser is not firmly committed to their sobriety, there is a high risk of a slip occurring during the holiday season A slip can easily lead to a full-blown return to addiction, so it needs to be managed effectively. The individual who has a slip should:
- Stop drinking immediately. There is a temptation to justify continued drinking with the idea, “well I’ve already done it so I might as well try to enjoy it”. The longer the individual continues to drink, the less likely they will be to return to sobriety.
- Seek immediate help. This can involve contacting a therapist or going to a fellowship meeting.
- Redouble efforts in recovery. If an alcoholic or substance abuser has a slip, it’s a sign that they have gone off course. They will need to put more effort into their recovery in order to avoid a return to their addiction.
At 12 Palms Recovery Center, we understand how stressful and challenging the holiday season can be for a recovering alcoholic or substance abuser. If you feel like you may be at risk for relapse, or if you want to use the new year as the starting point in your journey toward recovery, call 12 Palms toll free at 1-866-331-6779.
