Now that the season is changing, you may be wondering how you can have sober holidays this year. This time of year is particularly challenging for those who are trying to stay sober. Parties abound, people are celebrating with loved ones, and there may be an atmosphere that reminds you of the “old days.” In fact, you may even know people who will be partaking of alcohol or recreational drugs. In these types of situations, it can be exceedingly hard to maintain sober holidays. However, by following these tips, you can have a healthy, happy, and sober season.
Tips for Having Sober Holidays
The first thing to remember during this time is that your health is more important than anything else. Remind yourself of how hard you worked to get to this point. You deserve the happiness and tranquility you have, and you don’t want anything to interfere with the joy of sobriety. Therefore, you can take whatever steps necessary to ensure you have sober holidays. Here are a few things that you may need to do:
Avoid Old Friends Who Tend to Bring You Down
As much as you may love some of your friends, you know if there are friends who will bring you down by partaking in drugs or drinking over the holidays. If so, you should simply avoid going to any parties or gatherings with them. Or, if you do want to be around them, you could have them over your place briefly. Here is where you can control the environment and ask that they don’t bring any specific substances into your home.
Surround Yourself With Positive Energy
There is no need to get into a rut or a bad funk over the holidays. It is the last thing you need to do. If you feel loneliness or negativity creeping up on you, do anything you can to shove it aside. Surround yourself with people who have positive energy and who will bring an uplifting spirit to your mood.
Start a Sober Holidays Tradition
Now is the perfect time to start your very own holiday traditions—ones that do not involve substance use. You can volunteer at a homeless shelter, cook dinner for someone lonely, or guest host a special dinner for the elderly in your neighborhood. These are only a few ideas to help you make the holidays special, meaningful, and substance-free.
Reach Out When You Need Help
Finally, if you feel like you need help keeping sober holidays, don’t be afraid to ask for help. At Promises Treatment Center, we are always one phone call away from helping you. Our compassionate staff understands how difficult life can be, and they are ready to provide you with the tools and resources to move forward this holiday season. You may decide that an aftercare rehab program will benefit you during this time. You can bond together with others who are in a similar situation in group therapy. We offer several treatment programs that will benefit you, such as:
- Group therapy program
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy program
- Dialectical behavioral therapy program
- EMDR therapy program
Don’t let the holidays overwhelm you this year. Be proactive and take steps to make it a safe and happy holiday. You can have peaceful and sober holidays by reaching out to a quality rehab center. Contact us today at 1.713.528.3709, and we’ll walk beside you during this time.
