The holidays are often a very tough time for those that have struggled with addiction. The celebrations that occur can be very triggering and cause people to experience intense cravings. It can be very difficult to avoid being surrounded by substances during this time as many family gatherings choose to celebrate with drinking, smoking, etc. In order to help protect your recovery, it is important figure out ahead of time how you are going to navigate family gatherings and any potential events that could put your recovery at risk. So, here are some tips on how to navigate situations like that, as well as how to potentially avoid those situations. These include:
Start each day with a plan to fend off a relapse.
Evaluate each situation.
Bring the party with you.
Know your triggers.
Don’t forget to eat.
Keep stress under control.
Distract yourself.
Rehearse responses.
Learn to move past your cravings.
Lean on your support system.
For more information on this topic, click here