‘Tis the season of comfort and joy, but for some in recovery from addiction, the holidays can be a stressful time to maintain their sobriety.
Social gatherings, family dysfunction, financial strain, holiday parties can all create stress for an individual during the season. Traveling and commitments can also add the stress as well. During the holiday, you may find yourself away from your support network which add to the pressure, leaving you feel defenseless to a potential relapse. And if you have experienced significant loss or trauma, holidays can be an archipelago of memory and loss.
To all those who struggle with an opiate abuse, alcohol abuse, or any other form of substance abuse during the holidays – you are not alone. Like the tale mustard seed, it is unlikely you could sit at any holiday table in the world without finding a fellow pilgrim on the journey of healing. It is important to understand that you are not alone on the holidays and your support network is available for you. You can prepare for the holidays and safeguard your sobriety with some practical tips we have founded useful for others.
Have Sober Strategies in Place
Develop a plan to protect your recovery ahead of any holiday event and activity that could potentially cause a trigger. This may be reaching out to your sponsor or individual in your support network or attending a 12-step meeting before attending holiday events.
Adjust Your Mindset
Try to stay in the moment and be aware of any feelings that may come up during the holidays or any activities. Talk to your sponsor, support network, or a professional about any unsettling emotions or expectations that arise.
Get in Service
Holidays are a great opportunity to be of service. You can get into service by volunteering at a homeless shelter, 12-step meetings, or spending time with a newcomer. Connecting with others is a powerful way to strengthen your recovery.
Be Mindful of Your Surroundings
If you feel yourself starting to get overwhelmed at a party, it is okay to politely excuse yourself. It is also a good idea to keep your beverage in hand, so you do not accidently pick up another drink.
Avoid Known Risks
If you are going to a holiday dinner with a specific family member that you know will trigger you – set boundaries. Understand you do not have to engage in every conversation especially ones that sacrifice your emotional well-being.
Practice Self-Care
Celebrate the holiday season while practicing self-care. Take the opportunity to be mindful of your nutrition, participate in gentle exercise, or get plenty of rest.
If You Need Drug or Alcohol Treatment, Consider Entering a Substance Abuse Center During the Holidays
If you are struggling with alcohol abuse, opiate abuse, cocaine abuse, or any other Substance Use Disorders, you may find it challenging to navigate the holidays. Your recovery is the best gift you could give.
Considering Entering Treatment During the Holidays
Entering a drug addiction treatment center may seem challenging during the holidays, doing so is the best gift you can give your family and yourself.
Recovery is a gift that times time, and oftentimes this means entering drug addiction program during the holiday seasons. Spending the holidays away from your family can be wearisome, but there are many benefits of recovery. At Sobriety Solutions, a Pennsylvania drug treatment program, our team is available to assist individuals who are in need of drug treatment.
Should I Enter Drug Treatment During the Holidays?
If you are struggling with alcohol abuse, opiate abuse, cocaine abuse, or any other Substance Use Disorders, you may find it challenging to navigate the holidays. Your recovery is the best gift you could give. Getting sober whether during the holidays season or any time of year requires the assistance of professionals. Drug treatment programs are available to individuals during the holiday season. Sometimes, getting sober requires an individual to admit that they require inpatient level of care, even during the holidays. The first step to recovery is to stop using. Drug and alcohol abuse cloud our bodies and minds. Drug Treatment Programs will provide the detoxification services to start to cleanse the body from substances.
Some signs you require treatment at a substance abuse center are:
- Struggling to maintaining sobriety
- Troubles dealing with familial situations while maintaining sobriety
- Seeking additional support throughout the holidays
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
While entering a substance abuse center may seem hard during the holidays, you will be fully supported. Individuals entering into our Pennsylvania substance abuse center or New Jersey Drug Treatment Program will experience the following support over the holidays including:
- A supportive recovery community with holiday events
- A compassionate, dedicated team of professionals
- Peace of mind for your family and loved ones
- The gift of recovery to yourself and your family
Your loved ones want the best for you, and they do not want to watch you suffer from an addiction over the holidays. If you think that someone you love is addicted to a substance or alcohol, it is important to handle the situation with care. Sobriety Solutions has Pennsylvania drug treatment and New Jersey drug treatment centers that best match the specific needs of each individual. Whether you are looking for an inpatient or outpatient substance abuse center, there are many options available for anyone looking to take their life back from addiction. If you would like to learn more about drug and alcohol treatment center options available, please contact our Treatment Advocates at Sobriety Solutions at (833)-880-HELP.
Give yourself the gift of recovery today…
What Can You Expect At a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center?
Detox is the first step in healing the individual from the drug and alcohol abuse. The detox starts with evaluations by a medical team to determine which medical intervention is required. An individual will be medically monitored 24/7 in the detoxification unit until your treatment team determines you are stable enough to move to residential treatment program and engage in more clinical programming. Once an individual’s medical symptoms are treated, an individual will begin therapy in the residential setting.
Substance abuse residential program, is where an individual can expect to be able to interact with the treatment community and participate in therapy, activities, and ancillary services offered.
During drug and alcohol treatment, an individual may experience the following services:
- Group Therapy
- Individual Therapy and Evaluations
- Mental Health Evaluation and Therapy
- Medical Treatment
- Wellness Activities
- Exercise
- Family Programing
- Nutritional Care
- Drug and Alcohol Treatment Education
- Case Management Services
- Continuing Care Planning
Effective drug and alcohol therapy approaches will include multiples types of counseling such as individual counseling, group counseling, and family counseling. Individual counseling for drug treatment may include setting goals, identifying barriers, ways to work through challenges, and celebrating progress. An effective Drug Treatment facility will provide evidence-based therapy which has proven to help others recovery from addiction.
Some of the evidence-based approaches used in drug and alcohol treatment centers may include:
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based treatment approach for opioid drug treatment as it has proven effective to treat individuals with substance abuse. This drug treatment approach is used help in individual shift responses to situations so the individual could process andrationalize their decision making.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidenced-based treatment approach for opioid drug treatment as it has proven to help individuals to identify and correct problematic behaviors by applying a variety of skills that be used to stop the drug use and address the underlying issues.
Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) is an evidenced-based treatment approach for opioid drug treatment as proven effective for individuals seeking drug treatment. Community Reinforcement Approach uses a range of familial, social, and recreational factors to reinforce recovery as a more rewarding than substance use.
How do you know if an individual needs rehab?
Individuals who can benefit from entering into an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center will most likely have one of these characteristics:
- Individuals who are experiencing withdrawal
- Individuals who have recently relapsed
- Individuals who recently tried a lower level of care and were unsuccessful
Inpatient drug and alcohol treatment will focus on stabilizing the individual’s physical and emotional health. During inpatient treatment, an individual will learn about recovery and the support available.
If you would like to learn more about drug and alcohol treatment center options available, please contact a Treatment Advocate at Sobriety Solutions at (833)-880-HELP. Sobriety Solutions Treatment Advocates are available 24/7 and free of charge to provide treatment options.
