The holidays can be a difficult time if you're in recovery from addiction. There are so many temptations to use again. Even normal drinkers get into trouble since there are so many opportunities to over-indulge.

Stay Connected to Meetings!

12 step programs such as AA, and Al-Anon become your lifeline of consistent support since the risk of relapse is high around the holidays.

Whether you are in recovery from alcohol, food, drugs or codependency, 12 step programs provide much needed support to cope around the holidays without slipping into old behaviors.

These groups are absolutely free and available worldwide. Plus they are all on Zoom since the pandemic for those in remote areas. During the holidays “marathon meetings” last for 24 hours to help members stay connected.

12 step meetings provide a much needed safety net when dealing with the holiday challenges. The added pressure to drink is a bad combination with unpleasant memories that makes the holidays extra challenging.

Prioritize Your Recovery & Pick Wisely  

Planning out the holidays is your first task. Just because you've always gone to Aunt Mary's for Thanksgiving doesn't mean you have to this year. Recovery is about making healthy choices. You may feel obligated to be with family and act like nothing has changed but everything has! 

Now I'm not suggesting you avoid family events. It's more about learning how to recognize high risk situations and learn how to take care of yourself.

Decide what events you can handle and which ones are too overwhelming. Asking for guidance from other members and your sponsor helps. Once you've made a plan, sandwich the holidays with lots of meetings.

What to Do When You Can’t Make a Meeting

When you can't go to a meeting recovery podcasts can supplement - but not replace meetings in a pinch. These podcasts keep you contented to your program when you're starting to sink emotionally.

Check out Sobriety First and Stories of Recovery for a variety of recovery podcasts. There are several in iTunes too.

Manage Your Relapse Triggers

If you’ve experienced relapsed before, write out a mini inventory about what was happening that may have contributed to it. You can always learn from a slip by dissecting what went wrong. That way the slip serves as a valuable lesson.

Next, make a list of what your triggers are that would make you want to use. Here are some common relapse triggers:

• Being with old friends that still drink and use

• Going to any family or social event that focuses on drinking

• Stress and difficult feelings that are difficult to manage

• Feelings of loss or grief

• Relationship problems

• Hiding or pretending that you’re not an addict

• Old family hurts that aren't healed

The Power of Sponsorship

Helping others is a vital part of recovering from addiction. It's a "we" program because trying to work the program alone doesn't work.

It's easy to convince yourself that you don't really need to attend meetings anymore or get a sponsor. The desire to do it yourself creates isolation. And that becomes the gateway to using again.

That’s why having a sponsor is so essential to lasting recovery! A trusted sponsor walks you through the 12 steps and provides individualized support. Being the sponsor gets you out of yourself. You find yourself saying things to your sponsee that YOU need to hear. Sponsees become your lifeline of accountability.

Being a sponsor reminds us that principles like honesty, humility, powerlessness and surrender make sobriety possible. As you support each other, you reinforce your own recovery.

Working The Steps

If holidays are difficult, working the steps can promote healing. Try writing a mini fourth step on a challenging situation.

Here's a list of questions to get you started.

• Write about what's bothering you about the holidays.

• How does this fear/resentment/hurt impact you?

• What assumptions are you making that are likely based on the past?

• Find your part in the situation.

• What could do differently to have a better outcome?

Writing everything out on paper helps safeguard your recovery. Often, journaling provokes old emotions that have been buried. It's like an emotional cleanse before heading into the holidays.

Final Thoughts

Although the holidays can be a challenging time, take advantage of the many things 12 step program have to offer. Look for sober holiday events to connect and experience sober fun. Attend a marathon meeting to avoid isolation. You might be surprised at how much better you feel remembering what happened the next morning without guilt or remorse. That gives a sense of relief that no substance can offer!

Sign up for my free guide to Healing Holiday Hurts so you can enjoy the holidays instead of dreading them! Click below to sign up!