Are you in active recovery or trying to stay sober? With the holidays coming up, you may be wondering how you’ll handle all of the celebrations without a drink in your hand (or whatever your drug of choice). With added stressors that come with the holiday season, there is more temptation and triggers to deal with. However, there are some sobriety tips that you can utilize in order to better prepare for managing your recovery this time of year.
Some sobriety tips to consider using this upcoming holiday season include:
Not Skipping the Self-Care
Taking care of yourself should be a priority during the holidays, as this time of year can bring about triggers and stressors that may not come about during other times of the year. So, make sure to make time for yourself, even though you have a busy schedule. Some things you can do to improve your self-care routine are to get outside and take walks or runs in nature, practice mindfulness techniques like meditation and yoga, and get more sleep in by taking naps or going to bed earlier in the day. When you are taking care of yourself, your mental health will improve – even during times of the year that seem more overwhelming like the holidays.
Have a Reply at the Ready
One way that mental health is affected during the holiday season is getting overwhelmed. It seems that there is so much to do during the holiday season including hosting events, spending more time with family, going to rehearsals and concerts for your kids, going to parties and events, buying gifts, etc. All of these things being added to your plate can be overwhelming and add to the stress of the season. So, it’s important to give yourself grace and understand that you can say no when things get to be too much. Therefore, it can be important to have a reply at the ready for things that you just don’t have room for on your plate. This can include telling your friends or family that you just don’t have the capacity to spend more time or energy on something they want to add to your schedule. When you have a reply ready in your mind, it can be easier to say no and protect yourself from further stress.
Let Your Loved Ones Know
It can be hard to ask others for help, especially when we want to do it all on our own. But, we are always stronger together. So, if you feel overwhelmed and stressed by the holiday seasons, or symptoms of a mental health disorder seem to worsen during the holidays, it can be helpful to ask your loved ones for added support. Without letting your loved ones know that you may be up against a challenge, they may not know that you need help. So, consider reaching out to your friends and family to let them know that this time of year is more challenging for you. And, determine the things that you can ask them to help you with. This can be as simple as asking your loved ones to step in to help you with shopping or cooking. Or, having them be an ear to listen when things start to get overwhelming for you.
Reach out for Help if you Need It
Finally, the best thing that you can do if you’re struggling with your mental health during the holiday season is to reach out for help. If you find yourself in a mental health crisis, it’s essential to get the help you need, regardless of the time of year. Reach out for help from Delray Center for Recovery this holiday season and find out more about how we can help on our website.