Whats Your Sobriety Plan For The Holidays
photo credit: jorgemejia
Do you have a sobriety plan for the holidays? Or do you just hope you’ll make it through OK? A sobriety plan is always a good thing to have, whether are newly sober or you have been sober for years. Just when you think you have it all under control is often when you find out that you don’t. So, if you don’t already know, read along and see what might work for you.
Have a Sober Companion
In bigger cities, it’s now possible to hire someone as a sober companion for weeks or even months at a time. They can help you after drug rehab or on trips and vacations. While this may or may not be financially feasible for you, the concept can still be helpful in a more limited way.
You can bring a sober companion to your holiday gathering. This could be a trusted friend, your AA sponsor, or a close family member who understands how to help you prevent a relapse. They can help you stay aware of any risky situation brewing, help you stay calm and relaxed, and help you transition back out of the gathering.
Have An Exit Plan For Various Circumstances
This could be a ready-made and easily believable excuse for you to leave. It could be plenty of cab fare to get you across town to go home or to a sober friend’s house. It could be a signal to someone you have come with that it’s “go time” right now. Whatever that exit plan is, you will also need to know how to identify a situation that is going awry.
If you can possibly predict circumstances that might likely come up, you will be ahead of the game. If you know some people in your family or someone at the holiday gathering will likely get a “go to the bars” group together, craft your exit plan accordingly. If you think there might be alcohol at someone’s house that gets pulled out in the middle of the gathering, be on the lookout.
Do Not Attend Certain Gatherings At All
Imagine a holiday social situation where you can’t assess the risk of alcohol being there, or you do know the risk and it is pretty high. Or a situation that could be difficult to get out of for some reason. Or you have no one you feel you could ask to be a sober companion or at least understand your situation well enough to help you out.
If you have invitations to gatherings like these, you may honestly need to sit them out. Your ability to stay sober is really only as good as your sobriety plan. And if you can’t execute your plan well or the relapse risk is just too high, it’s not a gathering for you.
Return From Drug Rehab or Sober For Years Sobriety Plan Helps
Whether you have just returned from alcohol and drug rehab or you have been sober for years, you never know what will happen during the holiday season to trigger a relapse. Even if your holiday gatherings are OK to be at, sad and difficult things can happen without warning. You may still have trouble grieving over a loved one. A sudden ice storm can take out your power for a few days leaving you edgy and alone.
You hope you never need your insurance, but you’re always glad when you have it. Same goes for a sobriety plan.
Tags: drug-rehab, Whats Your Sobriety Plan For The Holidays
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