Last updated : December 16, 2024
The hustle and bustle of the holidays can bring on stress whether we like to admit it or not. For most of us, it’s nothing that a good night’s sleep or sticking to the allotted holiday budget can’t alleviate. However, someone struggling with a substance abuse disorder may suffer the added stress of coming up against specific seasonal triggers.
Subsequently, if they succumb to temptation, things can quickly escalate to full-blown addiction. If that happens, of course, they can easily find themselves back at square one.
Who do you know that could use some extra support this year? The following tips can help them make it through unscathed. Moreover, if they need a rock to lean on through the New Year, you can use them yourself and become that too.
Setting boundaries
No one should have to be uncomfortable during a holiday gathering. That’s the case, whether it’s a company party or the family dinner at Aunt Bessie’s.
Attending alcohol-free parties and events may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but good times can be had. The same can be said of casual drug use—being buzzed isn’t a prerequisite for having fun. Still, those who don’t struggle with drug or alcohol abuse may have a hard time seeing the logic of abstaining for someone else’s benefit.
If you’re hosting the party, going drug and alcohol-free would be the best thing you could do for your friend or loved one. Providing a safe space for them to mingle and have fun with other people in a strictly sober environment could likely be the highlight of their entire holiday season.
If others don’t see the advantage of keeping their party drug and alcohol-free, knowing ahead of time allows the individual who may be tempted to choose to avoid the gathering altogether. It would be a better action plan for most than possibly having to fight the temptation of grabbing just a sip of this or a toke of that as the evening progresses.
Falling off the wagon might mean they never find their way back on again.
If you’re on the invite list, too, suggesting you skip the event and do something else together instead is likely the best course to take.
Practice makes perfect
If you know your friend or loved one will more than likely come up against situations that will include the need to avoid using drugs or alcohol, encourage them to practice their refusal lines ahead of time. Preparing the mind for specific scenarios before they happen allows us to respond to those situations healthily and productively.
Maybe you could offer to “run lines” with them so the response will come spontaneously if the need arises. You could go so far as to write up a couple of scripts. Knowing what to say when friends or family—who may be under the influence themselves—offer alcohol or drugs can provide the resolve needed in the moment to stay clean and sober.
Stay connected
When you’re a constant in someone’s life who suffers from drug or alcohol issues, it’s not a good time to pull a disappearing act. Make sure you check in on them periodically over the holidays. Spending blocks of actual time with them is even better, of course. Having people that you “do life” with around is always important. That’s especially true over the holidays though.
Encourage the person to keep in touch with others in their recovery community as well. Who better to understand seasonal triggers than others who live with them too?
Routines keep you grounded
Encourage the person who may struggle at this time of the year to keep up with routines and rituals. It can help them maintain their sobriety. Working out, taking walks, and anything else that they use as a daily influence to stay sober should be maintained.
Avoid isolation
Especially if depression is involved, spending a lot of time alone during the holiday season isn’t a good idea. Old habits are more apt to resurface when someone is spending too much time alone. Moreover, loneliness is a huge trigger at any time of year but can be especially so right now. Therefore, those who struggle with depression or substance abuse should make plans to keep busy and hang out with people who support them in their sobriety.
Accountability partners are important at this time of year as well. If that’s you, don’t drop the ball! Making extra time for the person you care about is going to mean a lot to them—even if they don’t express it out loud.
Make a list and check it twice
Another way to stand against seasonal triggers is to encourage your friend or loved one to make a list of reasons why they must maintain sobriety. Having that list in front of their eyes—or even buried deep in their pocket—during the coming days can provide them with the strength to stay strong.
If you’ve read this article, you surely have someone you care about who needs to stay strong through the holidays. Surprise them with a list of your own containing the reasons why it’s important to you that they stay clean and sober through the holiday season and beyond. We’re thinking “Because I love you.” is going to be pretty near the top.
Guess what?
Those four words alone could be all that’s needed to bolster their resolve for a lifetime.
