The holiday season can be one of the most challenging times for someone on the recovery path. This issue is especially problematic in earlier years. Enjoying a sober Thanksgiving is possible. It may take a bit of extra planning but will get easier as the years go past. Making it through the holidays will be easier if you ask for the presence of your support system. Know that they will be happy to help you maintain all the hard work you have put into your sobriety. You only need to ask. If you have questions about maintaining your sobriety during Thanksgiving and the rest of the holidays, reach out to Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge today at 844.442.8673.
Host Your Own Dinner
You may be facing numerous invitations from family and friends for holiday get-togethers during this time of year. Some of these may be from individuals who understand your wish for a sober Thanksgiving and may make arrangements to help you avoid temptation. However, many others may not understand your need to avoid temptation and may not make non-alcoholic choices available.
You may feel that some of these involve people you would enjoy spending time with but don’t want to put yourself at risk. Why not arrange to host your own holiday gathering? In this way, you can spend time with the people that are important to you and still make the event drug and alcohol-free. If you want, you can explain to everyone that this is your way of spending time with the ones you love while still caring for yourself.
Attend More Meetings
AA and NA meetings increase during the holiday season. It is possible in many medium to larger cities to find one or more meetings scheduled daily. Make an effort to find out when and where these meetings are so you can attend if you feel the need for the added support. As an alternative, reach out to a sponsor, a church member, or a trusted friend and ask if they can be there to help talk you through any difficult moments. Know that this is not a burden. These people care about your successful sober Thanksgiving wishes because they care about you. Make sure you have as many of these supports in place in advance so you know you are covered.
Devise An Escape Plan
If you choose to attend functions where temptation will be strong, make an escape plan in advance. It can be as simple as knowing where the exits are and being willing to go for a walk until the craving has passed. Maybe you could arrange with a friend to have them call you after a specific time or be ready to come to pick you up if you call them. While at the function, bring your own beverage. If you ask many hosts to provide a non-alcoholic option, they will, but you can’t always count on that. If you don’t want to explain to people why you aren’t drinking, that is your right. You can avoid many asking by pouring your non-alcoholic drink into a glass. If someone asks if you want a drink, indicate you already have one.
Reach Out to Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge
Here at Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge, we like to remind our clients that they can enjoy a sober Thanksgiving. If you have not yet made that move, there is still hope. Give yourself the gift of a sober Thanksgiving by reaching out to us today. We will be thankful you did, and so will you. We offer a range of services, including:
Contact us at 844.442.8673 and seek help today.