Simple
- I don't drink and I don't think about not drinking. If somone asks me why I am not drinking I ask them if they would pose the same question to somebody who is no longer smoking.
- —puckchaser48
Find meetings
- I plan on going to a party sponsored by someone in my home group, then off New Year's morning to a breakfast/speaker meeting. My family is going to share this open meeting with me, and it will be a great way to start off the New Year. Fortunately, there are a couple of us in my family in recovery, and the support shown over this holiday way amazing. There was a lot of alcohol around, but I never once felt compelled to sneak a glass of wine, or anything like that. I stuck to my water with lemon and Diet Coke, and was very content and happy that I had my family back in my life. That made the urge to have a drink a lot easier to fight, knowing that if I did, I'd loose all that I had come to gain in my 16 months of sobriety.
- —vampire1964
EZ duz it
- The major advice I've been given as far as the holidays are concerned is the fact that it's just another day. Since I live one day at a time I can make no excuse to justify a drink.
- —Baldazar75
A mindful thing to do
- I usually step up my meetings during the holidays and find out where the gatherings are and go if I do not have plans with family. I have grandchildren and I hang out with them a lot because there is no thoughts of drinking with them as they are still so young. We usually play board games and watch Christmas movies. One thing to remember is how horrible you would feel the next day if you pick up that drink. Say the Serenity Prayer a lot too.
- —Guest Donna
HALT
- I find this acrostic very helpful and easy to remember. I don't allow myself to become too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. When I feel uncomfortable theese are the first things I check. I'll move on to a spot check inventory if none of them apply to me. Prayer always reveals the truth. Merry Christmas!
- —Guest Sharon B.
This is what I do...
- The holidays are a particularly dangerous time of the year for us. Emotions do run high and we are sensitive people by nature. One thing I make sure is that I am not alone. This year I will be working at the shelter. Past years, I would go to meetings and/or clubhouses and offer to help. Become a "part of" and you will quickly see how your presence there will help others. I have found that no matter how bad things may seem, you'll find others in worse shape. If you are going to be with family, keep in mind that alcohol may be close by. Know your boundaries and don't test yourself. You may have to excuse yourself and head a different direction. That's okay, do what you must to protect yourself from that first drink. Avoid parties. This has made me feel "different' but it's okay. I am different. I cannot drink like them. Staying sober through Jan 1st will be a great accomplishment for which you will be proud.
- —Skyhawk007
Alano Clubs
- To stay sober during the holidays I personally find A.A. Alano Clubs that sponsor 24 hour alcothons or 48 hour alcothons helpful.
- —Guest sdingman70
Caring for others
- I remember that Christmas visits/visitors may not remember what I say or what I do but they will always remember how you made them feel (wit can be cruel and demanding center stage means no one matters but me). I want to personify the spirit of Christmas: Love and care for others. Just watch the behaviors as alcohol consumption goes up: An increasing focus on self, loss of impulse control: impulse to hurt or disregard the feelings and stories of those around you. I will be creating memories of me in the hearts of my family (grandchildren in particular) and I want those memories to be precious.
- —Guest Marlene
Avoiding drinking during the holidays.
- Remember the HALTS don't get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. This time of year can bring out all of these. In early sobriety I attended AA meetings and functions. They are advertised at meetings in the monthly book in your state here in Qld is the Pathfinder. You can ring the CSO office or GSO Sydney to find out what's on on Christmas day or New Year's Eve or just ask someone at a meeting. If you need to attend work or family gatherings take a sober member with you even invite your sponsor. Take your own drinks and hold them close. Keep our phone in your pocket with contacts. Don't people please and stay till the end. Leave politely if you are uncomfortable they won't even know your gone if they are drinking. Enjoy the quality time with them and then excuse yourself when they start to get full. Say no if you really don't want to go. If they are your friends they will understand. Most of all you are a miracle in the making,try to enjoy the silly season as best you can.
- —Guest Wendy P
Replacing the Bad Memories
- I try to replace bad memories with the good, such as I have a lot of alcohol related deaths during the holiday season, and I try to turn them around to happy memorials, my family and I will sit around and talk about all the good times we were able to share with these people. I have been sober going on 3 years December 23, and I keep my focus on the reason why I wanted sobriety in the first place. That is because I wanted true happiness through being my true self, and forgiving myself and others help out as well. I also use my supports, my children are my biggest inspiration and my granddaughter, I have a lot of recovering friends that I can share experiences in recovery with.
- —Toni_G1
How I stay sober during holiday season
- One thing that really helps me is staying as busy as possible with service work when I am not at my regular job. I donate my time to food box kitchens, senior centers, homeless shelters. This really helps me with gratitude and thankfulness. I also bring my children to participate as soon as they are old enough to help. This also give my kids and I a very unique and wonderful time of bonding. It also helps them to see how lucky they are. I spend as much time as I can surrounded by my family at home and my family in addiction. I found it is very dangerous to my sobriety to isolate during this time of the year especially. Lastly, but the most important thing is I pray a lot and stay very aware and in tune with my higher power. Happy and Safe Holidays to All!
- —Guest Gayle
Doing What I Do Today!
- For me Christmas is no big deal. I drank on any occasion. Christmas, New years eve, birthdays, May 24th weekend, sunny days, rainny days, snow storms and on and on. One of the most difficult times for someone new in sobriety, maybe just after the Christmas festivities. It was like that for me. I stayed sober during Christmas for others, knowing they did not want me to drink and ruin things. But when Christmas was over, I figured I had done my part and now it is MY TURN. So during Christmas I attend meetings, pray and try to be willing to be helpful to others during my day. It works all year round.
- —Guest clarence
Remember Your Program
- Don't go to extremities to avoid social interactions that include alcoholic beverage. Remember your program; the first drink gets you drunk. Above all, remember where you came from and ask yourself if that is the same road you choose to travel again.
- —Guest btracyusa
Fitting in at Holiday Parties
- Holiday parties make me uncomfortable when everyone is drinking and I'm not. So I go to the bar and ask for a cranberry juice in a wine glass. This makes me feel like I fit in better and everyone doesn't ask me why I'm not drinking!
- —Guest Satchmo
Have a plan
- When I was first sober, if I went any where, I made sure that there was an escape route. If I went with someone, I had my own means of transportation, and they knew if I said, let's go, they were going with me or finding there own way home. I only drank from a container that I had filled myself from a safe source, and never set it down. I thought the whole encounter though several times before I went. I subscribe to the belief that most of the things I worry about never happen. Today is the tomorrow I worried about yesterday.
- —Guest gymweir
