Reframing Holidays in Early Recovery

This is because addiction is an illness, and the first drink sets off a chain of events that the person cannot control. This is just one of the concepts people in early recovery need to grasp. For today’s episode, Chris and Danny talk about the difference between how a family https://ecosoberhouse.com/ would respond to an accident if it was alcohol or drug-induced versus if it’s not. The family would be much more likely to minimize and shake off the incident if it was drug or alcohol related. This is especially true during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

• And I was sending 3 times as many cards as I was receiving.
• Consider reframing the day as an opportunity to work on your recovery skills.
• Although Southern California is primarily sunny, the arrival of winter can still cause a shift in feelings and emotions.
• Working with a professional can help you feel more prepared to deal with triggers when you’re encountered with them.

If you think about it, this distorted way of thinking takes root in our biology. For centuries our merit was based on whether or not we could bear reframing holidays in early recovery children. If anything, the pressure has doubled as many women juggle productivity expectations in both domestic and professional spheres.

Step 1: Rebuild physical strength and health.

The stress of the holidays may be unavoidable, but by providing a toolbox filled with a variety of therapeutic tools, your clients can find healthy ways to manage the stress without compromising their recovery. Our Cogs are No Longer Spinning in the Same Machine – COVID-19 has yanked us out of our classrooms, our workplaces, and our routines. Some people use the terminology “new normal” to describe our current state of affairs, but this is the furthest from normal most of us have ever been in our lifetimes. We are disoriented aliens on a strange planet – one that looks deceivingly familiar but feels “off”. Routine is an important part of the addiction recovery process… but its benefits extend well beyond the recovery community. Until COVID-19 passes, we can’t really determine our “new normal”.

• So, instead of keeping slip ups to yourself, tell someone else.
• Although the holiday blues can be difficult to handle in recovery, you can get help from your therapist, counselor, or addiction treatment provider to learn how to manage your symptoms and find support.
• Often, people want to help but don’t know what to say or where to start.
• The people who respect you and your recovery will make the best attempts to change their language and behaviors.
• Trying to live up to those expectations is impossible and will only produce feelings of guilt and depression.

St. Patrick’s Day is an extremely fun holiday, but it can also be a catalyst for a relapse if you don’t plan ahead. By having a plan, you’ll be more prepared to make it through the holiday sober. After the holidays have passed, the days can drag by slowly, making the winter months monotonous, dull and isolating. Instead of focusing on what was, consider reframing your mindset to prioritize what is and what is to come.

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Chris and Danny discuss multiple ways families can get help for their loved ones, some of which are outside traditional norms and expectations. They talk about how the podcast is the best way to get information out to families and how it is helpful for families with loved ones who need intervention. They also share their plans for the future and how they hope to help even more people in the coming years. If you are living with grief, loss, trauma, or loneliness, it can be easy to compare your situation to others’, which can increase feelings of loneliness or sadness. Take time to check in with yourself and your feelings and have realistic expectations for how the holiday season will be. An in-person or virtual support group meeting can help give you a safe place to talk about your feelings concerning winter and receive support from others who feel similarly.

• For example, one group makes homemade Valentines Day cards for our home bound clients.
• Any other good holiday hacks to help prevent overwhelm?
• In early recovery, it can be challenging to face family, friends and other relationships that may have been negatively impacted by their addictive behaviors.
• For those of you that don’t know, I run what’s known as a “bookstagram”.
• They talk about interventions as a possible solution for families struggling with addiction and emphasize that it is important to seek help as soon as possible.
• While reframing exercising can be a big challenge, you are not alone.

In addition, if you are having trouble with your recovery, a support group meeting can help ensure you are on track to staying sober. To reduce stress, consider making holiday travel plans in advance or opting out of last-minute plans that involve a lot of traveling. Although it can be difficult to be apart from loved ones during the holiday season, maintaining your sobriety is what’s most important right now. Major changes to your normal routine and schedule is a common trigger for relapse. Therefore, it’s important to attend as many recovery meetings as you can during this time and spend time with family and friends who are supportive of your recovery. The holidays are busy, so sometimes it can be difficult to make time for daily meditation, journaling, AA meetings, exercising, and other things that keep you grounded in your recovery. As a result, you might end up feeling drained and stressed.

How Negative Thought Patterns Can Sabotage Sobriety

Additionally, by finding out why you become anxious or sad around the holidays, you may be able to navigate the rest of the season. My experience at Casa Palmera rescued me from a very dark time in my life. My expectations were consistently exceeded by the expertise of the staff, the content of the program, and the overall respect and care I was treated with. I would highly recommend to anyone suffering from drug or alcohol dependency. Educate your client about boundaries and practice defining healthy boundaries in their relationships.

Chris and Danny also highlight the importance of having resources and help available during the family’s trying times. They also discussed how families can be affected by these events, and how thankful they are when everyone is safe. They describe how ineffective ultimatums are because the person giving the ultimatum is not always committed to following through on it. Another way to cope would be to focus on experiences rather than gifts, Benson said. She suggested taking relatives and friends on a hike or going to a museum as an alternative to spending a large amount of money on presents. Calming activities, such as reading, meditating, and gratitude journaling, can be helpful if you don’t feel comfortable in social situations.

If there’s no one you can lean on in person, have at least one person you can call or text when you’re in need. Have them call you if you need an excuse to leave a conversation that may trigger you. We extend a team ideology into all facets of treatment. Our recovery team and our clinical team work hand-in-hand to address all your needs. The self-care app, Shine, also talks about reframing “your reference point for success”. We are Constantly Bombarded by Negativity – With headlines day-in and day-out like, “COVID Death Toll Surpasses Vietnam War,” it takes more work to maintain a positive outlook.

Having a positive outlook can benefit you in recovery as you focus on the good in your situation. Nova Recovery Center is dedicated to helping you or your loved one get help. Please call or fill out this form for a confidential consultation. One of our understanding, dedicated advisors will contact you about your options. I’ve been binging on podcast interviews with Chris Palmer explaining his theory behind his new book Brain Energy. He pretty much takes the mystery out of how to maintain optimal mental/physical health.

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As you all know by now, Clarity Fitness is one of the very few explicitly “body positive” gyms in the country. We pride ourselves on our entire mission stemming from the idea that all bodies are good bodies , and we want to be here to help you find fun options of ways to move your body when it feels like moving.