Recovery: Keep It Simple This Christmas

You are not alone this Christmas; the fellowship of addiction recovery has your back. However, the group can’t help you with issues you are dealing with unless you share in a meeting or voice your concerns to a sponsor or mentor. In some ways, attending meetings during the holidays is more important than your average day of the year. Given people in recovery struggle with emotions at times, it makes sense that the feelings that arise during Christmas can present some problems. With that in mind, it's critical you make a point of getting to at least one meeting on both Christmas Eve and Day.

If you decide to open up about the emotions you're dealing with, you not only help yourself—you help others too. Something what you give to the group may assist others in warding off cravings that could lead to a relapse. The feedback you receive from your peers could be the catalyst for maintaining your sobriety during these trying times. The point is that we all keep our sobriety intact by working together. It’s called a fellowship for a reason; we’re all in this together.

 

Keep It Simple This Christmas

It’s vital that you do not bite off more than you can chew in the coming days. Remember to keep it simple, and stick to your usual routine as much is allowed. You may have committed to being present at a holiday party or dinner with friends and family; which means that you are at risk of being pulled in different directions. You might feel obligated to attend an event that could jeopardize your recovery. It’s critical you discuss the pros and cons of attending with your sponsor or another peer in recovery. Together, you might decide that skipping an event is the right thing for one’s program.

If you feel you must attend something where alcohol will be present, go to a meeting before and after; if you can have a plus one, maybe you can have a friend in recovery accompany you for support. No matter what you decide to do during the holiday, be sure that the event is secondary to your recovery. Schedule things around your program, not the other way around; your recovery must come first, always.

People in recovery must also consider self-care during major holidays. If you exercise regularly and eat healthily, make a point of adhering to your exercise schedule and eating well. Our physical well-eing is of the utmost importance, and it has a direct effect on our emotional state. Staying balanced is key to surviving the holidays. Don’t forget “HALT:” Hungry; Angry; Lonely; Tired. One must do everything in their power to avoid any one or more of those things from occurring this weekend. Simply put, you must avoid anything that could potentially weaken one’s program, at all costs.

 

Recovery Must Go On

One’s program is the most valuable thing in one's life, and if you follow the lead of your peers this weekend, there is no reason why it can't continue to be after the holiday. If you stay close to your support network, everything will be fine come Tuesday. Please keep in mind that making it through the holiday without drinking or drugging is a remarkable achievement of which to be proud. After all, holidays are hard for people with significant lengths of sobriety time; people in early recovery that can traverse the holidays without relapse show remarkable strength and commitment to something greater than themselves.

Celebrate Hope at Hope by The Sea would like to wish everyone a merry, safe, and sober Christmas.