Alcohol and Holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas Tips
Dealing with gatherings during the holidays can be quite challenging. It takes a lot of self-honesty to know if you can just have one drink or if you are not capable of that due to your past history or current situation.
It is not worth risking your recovery and sobriety if you know it can deteriorate into a negative pattern.
Bring a flavored water or favorite fruit juice with you to someone’s house if you think you’ll be put in a situation where you may be tempted to drink. Keep your committment to your recovery and know that you can still connect to others without alcohol.
Remember that the idea of gatherings is gratitude and closeness with others. Alcohol often puts us into our own reveries and nostalgia tape loops. Instead you can really be WITH people through good listening, paying attention and genuine concern. Use the gatherings to get into meaningful conversations and let people see your true self.
If you feel there is tension building up at a gathering, take a bathroom break and do some slow breathing with a visualization of gratitude about your new journey and goals. Remember that you have a lot of inner strength and don’t have to resort to alcohol to go on.
For some people, they’ve burnt a lot of bridges and may not have holiday plans. You can volunteer for a soup kitchen and help out or just use the day to stay home, play cds and incorporate some walking and a home project to rebuild your life and energy. Have a good talk with yourself about your goals and the holiday will be spent well instead of used for self-forgetting.