What a great topic, my best advice for holiday in recovery is to plan ahead !

I am just home from early Thanksgiving with family. Last year I did not see any of my family over holidays due to COVID, it was actually a much more relaxing holiday because of it.

I have a love / hate relationships with holidays. There are fond memories and others that would like to forget. The weeks leading up to holiday celebrations are filled with anxiety and can be followed by disappointment and depression.

Here are my suggestions:
- Have an exit strategy. I always drive myself.
○ 1st, I know I need to drive home, and I WILL NOT drink and drive.
○ 2nd, I can leave when I want to. No one is forcing you to stay.

- Plan something else to drink, and bring it yourself. Treat yourself to favorite coffee, sparking water, maybe bring ingredients for hot chocolate to share with others.

- Take break from others for a walk. I sometimes volunteer to take dog for walk, or just say need to walk off meal. Fresh air and exercise helps.

- Take care of yourself; take your medications, get plenty of sleep, etc… Stress is harder to deal with when weak.

- If you see a counselor / phycologist, set up additional appointments over holidays. If attend support meetings, go to few more over holidays. If have a sponsor, keep in regular touch.

- Set realistic expectations. I think many of us would like a Norman Rockwell or Hallmark movie version of holidays, it just is not a reality.

- I need to remind myself to stop trying to please or impress everyone. It is not about having the perfect present, the perfect meal, the perfect outfit, the perfect experience, it is about seeing friends and family.

I know many reading this will be asking "What about religion and spirality?" That is such an individual topic, I choose not to include in my list. It may be most important item on other's lists.

Last thought, remember, you cannot control how others act or treat you, but you can control how you react.

Have a safe holiday
Laurie