From the article: The Dangers of the Holiday Season
The holiday season can present all kinds of temptations and triggers for those who are trying to stay clean and sober. As others celebrate the season with alcohol at parties and family gatherings in can be difficult to not give in. How do you avoid drinking during the holidays? What tips can you give to those facing their first sober New Year? Share Your Tips
To all in recovery
- Sober just over two years and had my third vacation sober this week. Its not easy for me but i do find myself doing things on holiday i would never had done before simply because no drinking was involved. I also people watch and train my mind to watch exactly was is happening. I see a guy, gets a beer, is talking to his partner. He takes 10,15 maybe 20 minutes to drink it. He drinks it like its nice ,but i can take it or leave it and indeed when he left the table he left a mouthful.Then later i spot a woman who who drinks like the old me. While her partner sips a mineral water she downs four glasses of wine in under 15 minutes . Its not just the speed but the way she consumed the alcohol compared to the man with the beer. i am sure anyone who has abused alcohol will know what i am highlighting. I have to remind myself that an ice cold beer would be lovely on a hot sunny day but one would be too much and ten would probably not be enough. I also enjoy the freedom of being alcohol free.
- —Guest jacobs
Today only
- My suggestion not focusing on holidays but just today. By looking at holidayS, you're getting away of One Day At A Time. I know holiday periods are a distraction but I basically do on any holiday exactly what I do on any other day of the year - ask God to help me stay sober that day and then don't take a drink. Go to a meeting if you can. Keeping it simple!
- —Guest Jimmy
enjoy it more
- My first couple of tries getting sober went wrong when I went on holiday. The last couple of holidays I have focused on having a better time sober than I ever did drunk. This has included taking up golf, trying new foods, going scuba diving spending the money I used to spend on wine on other nicer things. The plan worked and I have come back having had a great time, better than coming home feeling hung over and ashamed:)
- —Guest Raven
Drinking
- I haven't had an alcholic beverage in 5 years now thats quite amazing if you ask me
- —Guest zZz
Everyone
- What a great site. It has been the reason I made it through the withdrawals, similar it seems with each poster. Asking for help / advice and posting of our experiance are equally helpfull for me. Thanks everyone for contributing here, it has really made the difference for me.
- —griffey1
Focus on the good!
- I just remind myself of everything I have to be grateful for no matter how insignificant it may seem. Sobriety is no guarantee that things will always go smoothly but is always better than drinking my hopes and dreams away. Who we are is right here in the present not in our past. It may not be easy but is always worth it, you just have to believe that you are worth the fight. Happy Holiday's!
- —Guest DOK
Remember
- I think about the last detox and withdrawal that I went through, and the hell that goes with it, then I think about how good I feel now. I am much happier sober and I am willing to give up anything but my sobriety.
- —Guest gregb
DESSERT!
- While everyone else is consuming all those empty calories of poison (hahahaha) I'm having an extra big piece of cake, some other sweets, whatever! My metabolism works again so I HAVE NO GUILT when eating dessert! I would have guilt however, if I drank. So, dessert makes me a happy camper :) Maybe even some hot coffee or hot tea too! Yum
- —Guest TTB
Ways to avoid
- Go to safe place meeting, sober friend, don't stay alone.
- —Guest troy
Sounds simple, but
- I was confident I could do it. I went as low as I could BEFORE the holidays. Lost my job ( and yes, sure alcohol had something to do with that, they didn't say so, but I know). I was the breadwinner, so now we are both out of work. spiraled. ended up in detox. Great care of course, but not a place I wanted to be. so then the holidays. The amount of alcohol everywhere was overwhelming. I caved. So disappointed. My next blood tests is in 10 days for re-hab. it will be cleaner. but it will not be 21 days cleaner which it was supposed to be. I am talking to one of my AA friends today. She's a little to overwhelmed to be my sponsor, but she always takes the call. SO get through new years. My family drink like fish ( but are not alcoholics apparently...) Wish me (and you all) luck with that and the blood tests. For those newbies... consider re-hab
- —Guest itsgottatakesoon!
what works for me
- I stay away from where liquor is being served and I decide ahead of time when I will leave. I tell myself "today, I get to say no and feel good about it"
- —Guest hacha
milesstones
- I feel your pain. I am 2 months sober and this this will be my first christmas in 25 years without a drink. However, I've been able to deal with other situations by looking at my sobriety as a journey with a unique set of milestones. Just like achieving anything of significance in life, I think its important to look at your journey and break it up into smaller goals or milestones. 1. Going one day without a drink....GOAL 2. Going one week....GOAL 3. Eating out without a drink....GOAL 4. A special occasion, like thanksgiving, Christmas or a birthday.....GOAL 5. Going on vacation.....GOAL 6. Your first year.....GOAL Everyones will be a little different, but plan for each milestone and you'll find that you can deal with it much more effectively. You can beat this.
- —kss133
How to avoid drinking during the holiday
- I avoid drinking one day at a time regardless whether it is a holiday or not. If I am thinking of drinking because of the holiday that I have not used my tools the first step I am also powerless over alcohol on holidays.
- —Guest Tony C.
Don't be afraid
- NA states 'Just for today, I will be unafraid. My thoughts will be on my new associations, people who are not using and who have found a new way of life. So long as I follow that way, I have nothing to fear'. The holidays can create fear in the newly recovering person, a feeling of isolation. Spending time with your recovery friends can really help to give you strength and confidence.
- —Guest tom
Enough is Enough
- Hi I am new on this site, I simply googled to see if there are people like me in the world.A brief description is I remember having wine for the first time on my 18th birthday to date,I am turning 30 in a couple of weeks and I am yearning for change. Knowing how I got home after my birthday would be nice for a change, walking and not have a feeling that you have done something wrong only to find out you embarrass the whole party crew called people names simply because they wanted us to go home when the lights came on in a club. First I thought I am cool people still liked me after a rude outburst or whatever embarrassment I have caused them. Now I feel empty my boyfriend dumped me last week after we went out and I got so upset with him and said a whole lot of things, anyway I don't blame him, the weekend before that I went out with sober friends insisted on 1 glass of wine until I have had more than 6 glasses and he had to come fetch me walking towards my door "apparently" I fell.
- —Tshwarelo
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