These tips for staying sober during the season were provided by visitors to the Alcoholism/Substance Abuse site at About.com; they have taken time to share their personal tips on dealing with the pressures of the holiday season. More holiday ideas are listed in Part I.
Click on their names to read their stories.
Lee
My salvation was an Alano Club that was 15 minutes from where I lived at the time.
Leni
I am having a gratitude dinner at my house for people who don't want to, can't, or do not have any family.
Leo
The only way the future can hurt us is if we rent it space in our today. Look to this day for it is the life of life.
Lilly2
Enjoy the true beauty of holiday love and joy. Maybe you cannot give material gifts -- But this year, you can give love.
Lisa
At all costs stay away from old people, places, and things you were familiar and comfortable with while drinking.
Lynne
Never go anywhere alone if there is going to be alcohol. I take an AA buddy with me.
Martha B.
Someone suggested that anyone having a bad holiday should "get out of the problem and into the solution."
Nadia P.
Going into an AA meeting where I know no one's name, but yet I know everyone, makes the holidays more bearable.
Penny
On the night of the party I would have attended in the past, I made plans to be active with my family.
Pete D.
As I became more engrossed in trying to live the AA way of life, I started to enjoy life and got out of myself.
Reed A.
Get some phone numbers of newcomers and stay in touch with them. Getting to know new people in the program can be refreshing.
Richard
I tell each person the traits that I value most in them, things they have done that meant a lot to me, ways I value them as a friend.
Rosie W.
Holidays can be very hard for all of us -- just don't watch the commercials!
Sam
I do 12-step calls during the holiday to help others, but more honestly (and selfishly) to keep the memory of what the first drink will do to me.
Sandy
I realized that once I got the alcohol out of my system that the blues and depression also went away so that I didn't have unrealistic expectations of the holidays.
Sandy Kay
The holidays are hard to get through, but sometimes what I need to focus on is just staying sober and remembering that as long as I do not pick up today, there is hope.
Thea
All of us have something to give in and out of the fellowship even if all we can afford is a smile.
Tom
I had a choice of staying or leaving places and I had a safe, clean and sober place that I could go to.
