Staying sober during the holidays is hard, especially if it’s your first sober Thanksgiving. Whether it is your first sober Thanksgiving or your twentieth, ways exist to help you through triggering events and temptation.
For extra sober Thanksgiving support, many 12-step support groups have meetings about staying sober during the holiday season. If you need ideas on how to ensure you enjoy a sober Thanksgiving, consider the following:
Start a New Tradition of Sober Thanksgiving
If alcohol is part of your old Thanksgiving tradition, start a new tradition! Host a sober Thanksgiving at your house, and make clear no alcohol is allowed. Plan activities to keep busy, provide alternative beverages, and invite fellow sober revelers. You don’t have to explain why you don’t drink this year.
Enlist Help for Sober Thanksgiving
With a little help from your friends, sober Thanksgiving is attainable. Attending meetings and asking fellow sober friends for support during a craving help. Having sober friends to help makes staying sober during the holidays that much easier.
Set Boundaries About Staying Sober During the Holidays
Make sure your family and friends know about your sobriety. If they drink, set boundaries about staying sober during the holidays. Avoid the holiday stressors that trigger your urge to drink. If there are people, activities, or situations you aren’t ready to face, stay away. Refuse to let other people’s behavior drive you to drink.
For Sober Thanksgiving, Bring Your Own Beverage
If you attend a holiday event someone else hosts, bring your own beverage. Bringing your own drink gives you alternatives to alcohol and water at sober Thanksgiving. If your Thanksgiving has too much alcohol or temptation or triggers, don’t go. Sobriety is worth the trade-off.
Create An Escape Plan for Staying Sober During the Holidays
Leave an event if alcohol is tempting you. If you’re tempted by alcohol at a party, leave. Mention an alternative arrangement if you know you may want to leave early. Enlist a friend to help. Get them to text you if you need it, so you can say they need you elsewhere ASAP. As part of your escape plan, transport yourself. Don’t wait for someone to come drive you away from temptation.
If the prospect of attending an event fills you with dread, don’t go this year. You could instead spend time doing something different, like volunteering somewhere or attending a 12-step support group. The people who love you will understand.
Practice Self-Care
Staying sober during the holidays with depression or social anxiety is a trying experience. Get a good night’s sleep before sober Thanksgiving or use alone time to relax. Plan a reward ahead of time, so you have something to look forward to after a successful sober Thanksgiving. If things get too stressful, but you don’t want to leave, take a break. Walking or sitting outside alone clears your mind.
If you anticipate stress at a holiday event, don’t go this year. Alternatives like volunteering or attending a 12-step support group help you have a sober Thanksgiving.
Get Professional Help From Promises Behavioral Health
Above all, the best way to ensure a sober Thanksgiving is professional help. Our programs make staying sober during the holidays a breeze. Promises Behavioral Health offers a range of treatment programs for alcohol addiction. These include:
- Alcohol detox – Medical drug and alcohol detox is often crucial for withdrawal from alcohol. Going cold turkey without support is dangerous and even life-threatening. When you detox at a treatment facility, medical professionals monitor you throughout withdrawal symptoms. They give you the medication and treatment needed to manage your withdrawal pain.
- Residential alcohol treatment – People struggling with severe alcohol abuse may need an inpatient program. When you join inpatient rehab, you stay at the facility 24 hours a day. Promises Behavioral Health residential rehab centers offer comfort, peace, and contemplation.
- Outpatient alcohol treatment – If you need treatment that accommodates your work, family, and education, consider outpatient treatment. Several Promises Behavioral Health facilities offer this service.
If you or a loved one struggle with staying sober during holidays, contact Promises Behavioral Health. We know how hard getting sober is — call us today at 844.875.5609.