Drug Addiction: 3 Threats to Recovery During the Holidays
Drug addiction relapse during the holidays is exceedingly common and it’s not just New Year’s Eve that throws people for a loop. Even those who have been clean and sober for years find themselves heavily tested during the holiday season and the triggers or cravings can come from any number of sources. Here are a few of the most common issues that face those in drug addiction recovery during December and what you can do to fight back.
Drug Addiction Threats to Recovery: Financial Problems
The holidays are expensive. Gifts alone can throw a precariously balanced budget off its axis with just a few holiday sales. For many, there are also holiday parties at work that require a new outfit or that you bring yet another gift, holiday dinners and parties with family and friends that require the same things, more money for a tree, lights, and other decorations depending upon the holiday or holidays that you celebrate. Bills get forgotten due to the rushed schedule and late fees accrue and interest rates increase. Credit cards are maxed out and bank accounts are overdrawn to cover the extra costs of the season and suddenly “just one drink” doesn’t sound like such a big deal.
Drug Addiction Threats to Recovery: Family Issues
Many people make an extra effort to see their family during the holiday season, but unfortunately, there’s no moratorium on family drama. All the issues that you’ve been avoiding over the past months or more pop up in little passive aggressive ways or manifest loudly in huge arguments. It’s common, once again, to want to leave and go get loaded or throw back a few shots to make it through the emotional madness.
Drug Addiction Threats to Recovery: Stress and Guilt
Guilt and stress are everywhere during the holiday season. If it’s not religious guilt associated with the holiday, it’s stress over family guilt for past wrongs or just plain feeling guilty that you can’t do more for those you love or can’t go see family member who are important to you. The excess of the season can often make you feel unprepared: forgotten people on your gift list, cards that go out too late, too many events to attend. This on top of regular day-to-day stress can put you that much closer to relapse.
Fighting Drug Addiction Threats
Financial issues can be battled with a strict budget. Before you buy even one present, take a look at your monthly finances and see where you stand. Allot yourself an exact dollar amount, then divide it up amongst those you have to buy for and your other holiday expenses. Every time you buy something, write it down and stick to your limits.
Family issues are a common relapse trigger all year long. Relationships are wonderful but also stressful and you’ll need to utilize all your tools to get through it: remember your emotional boundaries, give yourself permission to say ‘no’ when others place inappropriate demands on you or your time, and call your sponsor or a supportive friend if you feel like you’re going to relapse.
Guilt and stress is just like family issues: boundaries are primary and it is not your responsibility to take care of everyone around you. Give yourself breaks if you’re feeling overwhelmed and take time to see your therapist or go to a meeting even if it means crossing something else on your list.
And remember: nothing is worth the risk of relapse. A life without drugs and alcohol is always better than a life of addiction.
