Sobriety
Sobriety is the ultimate goal for any recovering drug or alcohol addict. It provides people with the chance to live a fulfilling life without addiction. However, due to the chemical nature of addiction, the pathway to sobriety is difficult. When an individual develops a chemical addiction to drugs or alcohol, they will always be at risk to start using again, regardless of the treatment program they completed. Rehabilitation teaches recovering addicts how to use coping mechanisms to deal with stress, how to have genuine relationships, and how to live in a healthy and peaceful way. The goal of sobriety is a continuous and ongoing process.
Suppression
Many who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction attribute their initial inclination towards substances as a way to suppress problems, thoughts, and life in general. Due to the effect of drugs or alcohol, memory loss, blackouts, and altered states are the ways life is experienced for an addict. Sobriety, however, allows the person to be in the moment and to actively participate in life, in an unaltered state.
The path of treatment, detox, rehabilitation, and recovery helps recovering addicts find the way back to living life in the present. Sobriety shows addicts how to handle life’s challenges without fear or a need to escape.
Harmful Influences on Sobriety
Alcoholism and drug abuse is caused by many factors: genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and chemical components, to name a few. But a big contributing factor in addiction is the presence of stress and triggers. Many times people are the stressful triggers that block sobriety and cause a relapse.
Influences on sobriety can span back decades in some cases. For instance, a history of childhood trauma is strongly linked to alcoholism and drug abuse in adults. And according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), “people with both a positive history of early childhood trauma and co-occurring alcohol dependence have a more severe clinical profile, as well as worse treatment outcomes when compared with those with either early trauma or alcohol dependence alone.” During the holidays it is important to be extra cautious about the people and places that remind you of traumatic experiences or memories.
The complexities of friendships and family relationships are often overlooked. While family relationships are incredibly rewarding for some, they can be just as problematic, especially recovering addicts.
While childhood trauma and substance addiction (particularly alcohol) are strongly connected, those traumatic sources may still be present in adult life. While recovery treatment conducts therapy to recognize those harmful sources, it is important to remember how the holidays may introduce stressors again.
The Holidays
Living life without the need for substances is what all recovering addicts strive for, but it becomes much more difficult during the holidays.
Certain holidays like New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, all feature social aspects that many recovering abusers are not equipped to deal with on their own. Studies show that even people who do not suffer from addiction of any kind, experience high levels of stress during the holidays, for varied reasons. For recovering addicts, this problem increases dramatically due to their ongoing battle with a chemical dependency.
Emotions are elevated during the holidays due to societal pressures, financial expectations, and a lack of time. For those in recovery, the holidays are a particularly dangerous period because other stressors, like workplace stress, family obligations, and gatherings, consume schedules. During the holidays, things add on to regular stressors and everything else intensifies.
Staying sober through the holidays can be extremely challenging. For instance, holiday parties often feature alcohol, social interactions with family members or old friends, and environmental factors. These elements may all contribute to relapse.
One way to combat the social influences or alcohol offerings during the holidays is to prepare a response. Also, having an exit strategy is crucial. Develop a contingency plan with alternative activities and respectful reasons for leaving, if needed.
If there are old friends who you used to drink with or if there are family members who might bring up triggering memories, it is best to leave or skip the event all together. Making a concrete plan helps you keep control. When it comes to your sobriety, you have to put you and your health first.
Putting Yourself First for Your Health
During the holidays, it is important to practice self-care and set boundaries. Remember, self-care is never a selfish act. When you take care of yourself, you put the best and healthiest version of yourself out in the world. And that positively impacts others.
One way to stay sober during the holidays is to increase time with your trusted social support network. NIAAA states, “Recent investigations highlight the importance of assessing trauma among patients with alcohol use disorders and the positive benefits associated with the application of integrative psychosocial interventions that target both trauma-related symptoms and alcohol dependence.”
Therapists are known to have fuller schedules during the holidays. New patients seek out their services, while current patients book extra sessions. Book an extra session or ask to extend beyond the traditional forty-five to fifty minute session. Write down a list of concerns you have, situations that feel problematic, people you may be worried about seeing, and any other feelings that worry you.
More than anyone else, therapists deeply understand how stressful holidays and personal relationships can be. Prepare for your session and make the most of it. Additionally, writing down information about problematic situations, anxiety, and fears is a coping tool, encouraged in the mental health field. Journaling and writing helps relieve stress and promotes healing.
Set aside time. Make sure you take the time to focus, slow your breathing, regulate your emotions, and engage in calming activities like meditation, creative pursuits, or spending time outdoors. Keep your sobriety at the forefront of your mind, in addition to the bigger picture of health and happiness.
Remember to take the very best care of yourself during the holidays…and always.