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Maintain your sobriety during the holiday season
The Thanksgiving holiday is the beginning of the festive holiday season. From now until New Year’s Day, it’s typical to be busy socially attending family gatherings, work parties, celebrations, and other festivities. It can be a lot to manage sometimes, and the festive season can be good and bad for everyone.
Unfortunately, during this time of year, we tend to see an increase in alcohol consumption among all age groups and, in some cases, an increase in recreational drug use. Thanksgiving Eve is also known as Blackout Wednesday, the first heavy drinking weekend of the holiday season; heavy drinking is normalized.
This can pose a challenge for anyone new to sobriety or someone choosing to remain sober during the holiday season. Fortunately, there are valuable tips and practical information you can use to maintain your sobriety during the festive season.
Statistically, Nebraska ranks below average in the rate of alcohol-related deaths per capita but above average in underage deaths. Roughly 22.5% of adults over 18 binge drink at least once per month. Annually, there are over 700 deaths attributable to excessive alcohol use.
Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season do not have to lead to lost sobriety. The best approach involves coming up with a plan to stay sober. What are you going to do? Where will you go? Who will you spend it with? A little bit of planning can significantly reduce stress.
Stress is typical this time of year and difficult to manage, whether financial, traveling, family gatherings, or negative feelings. Having some downtown time and a healthy outlet is a good idea.
Chaos and unpredictability, for example, create triggers that often lead to relapse. Identify those relapse triggers and avoid or manage them when possible. Most temptation to drink or use drugs arises because of anxiety, depression, and feeling overwhelmed during the holidays. This time of year can bring about negative emotions like guilt and remorse; it’s a good idea to have some support when needed.
Finally, consider hosting your own Thanksgiving or holiday gatherings with friends or family. Let people know ahead of time that you are not drinking. When attending any family or friend gatherings, bring non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails or invite a friend as added support. Plan your exit before you arrive if things begin to go sideways.
The holiday season is meant to spend quality time with loved ones; your sobriety should not be at risk. Take this time of year to create new memories and sober traditions; be grateful for all your accomplishments and enjoy the festive season to the fullest.
— Michael Leach has spent most of his career as a healthcare professional specializing in Substance Use Disorder and addiction recovery. He is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and contributor to the healthcare website Addicted.Org.