Recovering From an Addiction: During & After the Holidays

After the holiday season, many addicts in recovery will take a deep breath and be thankful that the holiday season has come to an end. This is because it is common for addicts in recovery to feel extra stress during the holidays. People are often stressed out about family gatherings, lack of family gatherings, loneliness, finances, and even gift buying. All this may be over, but many people recovering from an addiction forget about the stress and problems that come after the holidays.

There Are Risk

It is crucial for a person recovering from an addiction to be aware of the risks of relapsing during and after the holiday season and understand that there are things that can help them during these times.

After the Holidays

It is common for recovering addicts and non-addicts alike to experience a great amount of excitement and joy during the holidays and then crash right after. Therapists suggest that the frantic pace of preparing for holiday parties, dinners, shopping, gatherings, and celebrations can result in a period of depression right after the holidays are over.

January to February

For those recovering from an addiction, they are at a great risk for relapsing during the month of January and even into February. During these months, especially January, the reality that the holidays are over begins to set in. Many people will realize that they shopped too much and have a large stack of bills that must be paid. For other people, they realize that they must return to their normal routine which may seem very boring at times. This is because they have just gone through of 6 weeks of holiday excitement that has been further promoted by the media, television, family, and friends.

New Year Resolutions

Another reason that a person recovering from an addiction is at risk for relapsing is because of the start of the New Year. Many people think that the New Year is a time to make resolutions or promises to themselves. A resolution may be to lose weight, get e new job, finish a project, or for a recovering addict, stay clean, go to more meetings, etc.

The Problem With Resolutions

The problem with resolutions is that it is easier said than done. Many times a person realizes that they are not able to follow through with these resolutions. This may cause a great deal of self disappointment that could cause low self esteem, depression, and for those trying to recover from an addiction, a possible risk of relapsing.

Consistent Support System

Anyone who is trying to recover from addiction knows that the holiday season is going to be a tough time and so they prepare themselves for it, but many forget about the period after the holidays are over. The best thing that anyone trying to get over an addiction can do is to maintain a consistent support system.

Available All the Time

A support system should be available at all times of the year and especially during the holidays. Support can be found in family members, friends and support groups that are associated with addiction. It is common for support groups to talk about this topic in recovery meetings and many groups will hold extra meetings for recovering addicts.

Help and Guidance

Part of having a support system is to attend various support groups and recovery meetings that provide that much needed help and guidance for recovering addicts during this time period. When attending these meetings, people will realize that they are not the only ones experiencing the holiday stress. There will be a great deal of discussions, articles, and general listening during this period; typically before Thanksgiving and up to the day after New Years.

It Can Prevent a Relapse

Many addicts in recovery will attend extra meetings during the holidays and they should continue to do so after the holidays are over. These meetings can potentially prevent a person from relapsing back into an addiction.

Balance and Stability

Finding support can allow the recovering addict to be in the best possible position to remain balanced and stable during the holidays, after the holidays, and throughout the year. Maintaining balance and stability can make all the difference in the world and potentially prevent a relapse.