The holiday season can be full of joy, and you may be looking forward to many holiday events. On the other hand, if you’re living in recovery, you may have some concerns about being able to celebrate the holidays sober. If this is your first year doing the holidays sober, you may wonder if you can enjoy a Christmas party without toasting with your favorite alcoholic drink.
Remember How Far You’ve Come
Think back on how your life was when you began your recovery. If you journaled during those first sober days, read your journal entries to remember how strained your life and relationships were. And even though your first few days may have been grueling, remember how great it felt to get those first sobriety chips.
Talk to your sponsor about your concerns. Your sponsor likely had similar feelings when facing their first holiday sober. One recommendation they’re likely to make is to keep your daily routine as consistent as possible. Your routine should include going to the recovery meeting you typically attend – and, perhaps, a few extra meetings where others may be tackling their first sober holidays.
Make a Sober Holiday Plan
As the season begins, think about how you’ll react when someone at a party offers you a drink. They may remember you from past holidays and have your favorite drink ready. Be ready to say, ‘No, thank you’ – and mean it. Grab some sparkling water or soda and keep your glass full as you get through the party.
If you feel very nervous before going to a party, go to a meeting before the party. Call your sponsor or another recovery friend before the party, for encouragement. Call your sponsor again if you begin to get tempted during the party. Your sponsor will understand; they’ve likely been through the same thing.
Party Your Way and Have Fun
You’re in charge of all your actions and all your choices at the party. Don’t let someone else pour you a drink if you don’t see what they’re pouring the drink from. If it’s a family party, and you know that certain family members will be a challenge to your mental health, try to spend as little time with those family members as possible. One of the best ways to keep yourself having fun is to look for things to do that are helpful.
Service to others is always an excellent way to maintain sobriety because it takes your mind off yourself and extends it to others. Since over 80% of Americans travel between July and December, one or more of your relatives are likely to travel during the past year. Ask them to talk about their vacation. You may get some travel tips for your next vacation.
Think About the Consequences
While you were drinking, you may have been in an accident that caused damage to your car – so you’ve seen what drinking has done to you. After all, according to Medium, you remember over three-quarters of what you see. The same source reports that we remember only 10% of what we hear and one-fifth of what we read.
You might think you can indulge ‘just for one party.’ Your sponsor and other recovery friends will tell you that’s a foolish idea, but your sobriety isn’t all that’s at stake. Indulging in ‘just’ six to eight drinks can bring your blood alcohol content to a level that could get you arrested. After all, driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.17 or over is nicknamed the Super Drunk Law.
As everyone around you gives gifts, give yourself some self-care gifts. Get a massage or a haircut. Travel to your happy place and drink in the scenery to nourish your soul. Most of all, your biggest gift to yourself during this holiday season will be your continued sobriety.