8 Tips to Handle Holiday Temptations
Happy holidays everyone. Wanted to share a timely post my teammate Olivia wrote for handling addiction during the holidays (whether that's a diet, or alcohol, or something more serious).
4 Tips for Staying on Track:
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Create your own boundaries. It is extremely important to let others know whether or not you are participating in certain activities if you are currently experiencing or have a history of addiction (Foote, 2014). Staying clean and planning ahead should be your top priorities. If you do not think being with your family will be the best thing for you, you must set this boundary and inform them of your decision. Many times, communication is all it takes to foster understanding and support from your loved ones.
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Attend support meetings for your addiction before and even after the holidays. Many groups and programs focusing on healing and addiction recovery are open all hours and during the season. For those who may not feel a great deal of support from their families, support from other groups may provide this missing sense of community. By preventing feelings of isolation it becomes significantly easier to stay away from your addictions.
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If your family is unwilling to accommodate, do not be afraid to seek out different options during the holiday. Spending the day with friends who understand your boundaries is often a great option for those with an unhealthy relationship with their families. Another option is to volunteer your time at a soup kitchen or any other organization that needs help during a holiday. Ensuring that you have a plan for the holiday will not only help to clear your own mind, but focusing on helping others will also create fulfillment and positivity.
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If the situation is obligatory and you are expected to show up, such as to a work event, try to bring a sober or healthy friend with you for support. You will feel more comfortable avoiding or refusing certain things if you have someone with you who is doing the same. Likewise, they can support you throughout the event if you ever feel triggered by certain activities. If bringing a guest is not an option, plan ahead to have a supportive friend ready on call who will be there for you if you begin to feel anxious or triggered.
4 Tips for Accommodating Loved Ones:
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Oftentimes, the last thing people with addictions want to do- especially during the holidays- is talk about their addiction. Trying not to pry or give unwanted advice can prevent placing your loved one in an anxious situation where they feel the need to explain themselves (Foote, 2014). Likewise, the unsolicited advice of someone who has not been through addiction may not be the best thing for someone currently struggling with it to hear. Addiction is like a disease, and those with it do not wish they had it. If they are coming to join you during the holidays, they are already trying to get better by seeking out support and togetherness.
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Do not center the event around drinking, eating, etc. Some holiday parties’ main events are drinking games or food-related. Make sobering up and changing habits as easy as possible for your loved ones by being aware of their needs and as inclusive as possible. For example, providing soda or other non-alcoholic beverages is a great way to include those who are not drinking. It also helps to make these non-alcoholic drinks look as much like alcoholic beverages as possible in order to avoid explaining to others why they are not drinking.
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Isolation will only make addiction worse, so make it a point to be there for them and offer support. Simple gestures such as personally inviting them to holiday events may mean a great deal to those with addiction. As the studies above stated, the more individuals participated in holiday events and rituals, the more positive well-being they felt afterward (Páez, Bilbao, Bobowik, Campos, & Basabe, 2011). The last thing you would want to do is make your loved one feel unwanted during this time of the year.
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Although it is extremely important for those with addictions to set boundaries themselves, it can also be just as important for their families to set boundaries as well. For example, insisting that they cannot come if they are still using may become the motivation they need to fight their addiction.
Sometimes triggers can happen in an instant, and having immediate support is key. If you're interested in a pocket problem-solver for certain feelings and frustrations that come up, try out our app LIFE Intelligence (https://www.lifeintelligence.io/). We're a free download, allowing you to track moods and habits and ground yourself with therapy and coaching techniques. These help your goals feel closer to home, and temptations less overwhelming in the moment. https://appstoreconnect.apple.com/apps/1518619206/appstore/ios/version/inflight
