If you’re like many addicts, the holiday season brings on some complicated emotions. For many people, it’s not quite the holly jolly time of the year that’s depicted in movies and advertisements.
There’s added pressure to use. It seems that everyone’s having a drink or using in some way. Office parties are full of temptation, and family dinners are, well, full of colorful uncles and stressful conversations.
So what can you do to stay sober over the holidays? We’ve put together these 4 support resources to help with sobriety.
1. The Gym
I know, I know, working out seems like a hollow replacement for your favorite substance, but it really does help take your mind off the temptations of the season.
It’s a healthy alternative that helps you focus on important self-care tactics as opposed to self-destructive addictive behaviors.
Additionally, research indicates that moderate-intensity exercise can actually relieve your urge to drink alcohol. Moreover, in animal studies, long-term exercise actually decreases the sensitivity to the positive-reinforcing effects of cocaine. So you get fit and reduce the influence your favorite substance has over you.
If you’d like to find other recovering addicts to work out with, you might try The Phoenix website and app. They offer group activities for recovering addicts around the country. If you can’t find a group activity near you, you might consider starting one!
2. A Holiday Planner is a Great Sobriety Support Resource
It’s always good to have a plan. You know the holidays are coming, and you know what types of stressors affect you. So plan ahead.
Your plan might include attending more sobriety meetings, limiting your attendance at holiday parties, changing up your traditions to include healthier, happier friends and family, and volunteering to help those less fortunate.
Scheduling specific activities with specific people gives you control over just who you will be around during what can be a very stressful time of year and how often. That’s an empowering way to make better choices.
3. Your Top 5 List
Along with your holiday planner, it’s a good time of year to put your ‘top 5 list’ on call. Your ‘top 5 list’ consists of your five best sobriety buddies.
These should be people who know how important it is to have someone to call when you’re feeling that seemingly irresistible tug to use. They are people who will agree to be there for you when you call.
Having five people on this list ensures you will be able to get ahold of someone when you call. If you’re having a particularly difficult time, you can just go down your list until you reach someone who can help.
4. The Sober Sidekick App and Your Connections
Don’t forget the Sober Sidekick App! It’s another valuable sobriety support resource where you can make connections to get through the holiday season.
The Sober Sidekick Program is a free community of over 150,000 members who know exactly how you feel. You just download the app on your phone, and you have an instant connection available during those tough times when you’re not sure you can resist.
There’s no judgment in this community, and the app is built to prioritize anonymity rather than feed the ego. The Sober Sidekick perspective is, “I (Ego) can’t stay sober, but together, WE can stay sober.”
We’re In This Together!
At Sober Sidekick, we know how important it is to have a community to support your sobriety. We’re in this together, and together, we can have a truly happy, sober holiday season!