Navigating Holiday Festivities Sober

Navigating Holiday Festivities Sober

Written by Lee Ann Heathcoat, MSEd, LCPC

With the holiday season in full swing, it can be easy to get caught up in the celebrations and overindulgence that can happen during this time of year. Below are a few tips to aid in keeping your sobriety from getting lost in the hustle of the season.
  

1. Be Mindful: This means being able to identify early warning signs your sobriety may be at risk. Early warning signs may be mood changes, changes in daily routine, or changes in sleeping patterns. Being able to recognize early warning signs and applying healthy coping skills may help avoid a relapse in the future.
2. Social Supports: Building strong social support is a key component to having a successful sober holiday season. Social support can be someone to attend parties with, can be a person you share emotions with, or be someone to help bring attention to high-risk situations that haven't been previously addressed. 
3. Written Plan: Taking the time to complete a written relapse prevention plan is a valuable resource to have in being able to support sobriety. It can be used to reflect on goals and steps to support those goals. It can also include triggers, healthy coping skills to utilize against triggers, contact information for social support, information for sober support meetings (AA, Smart Recovery), and ways to relax during the holiday season. 

Taking the time to prepare in advance for the upcoming holiday season can aid in making the season a success for recovery. If reading the information provided above resonated with you and you may be a good fit for one of my specializations, reach out. I’d like to connect and find out more about how I can support you on your journey.