The Thanksgiving holiday, for many Americans, is a celebration of and with family and friends. On the last Thursday in November, and throughout the long weekend, you may share good food, have fun conversations, and watch football, and usually, there are drinks flowing freely. For those with alcohol addiction and those in rehab or on a path of recovery, sober techniques are essential to enjoy a sober Thanksgiving. For professional assistance to experience a sober November, contact Midwest Recovery online or call 833.627.0039 today.
Giving Thanks For Your Recovery
The holiday season is a time to relax and spend time with friends and family with food and beverages. Many adults will have a cold bottle of beer or glass of wine in one hand throughout the year-end holidays, but you are clean now, and you want to have a sober Thanksgiving. For those recovering from addiction, the holidays can be a stressful period of time, full of harmful triggers that can too easily lead to experiencing a relapse.
This is even more true if it’s your first sober November. While drinking and doing drugs, you may have caused physical and emotional scars that have not yet been forgiven or forgotten. Seeing those people you have hurt can bring about feeling of shame, guilt, worry, stress and anxiety. While these feelings will pass, you need to be armed with sober techniques taught by recovery professionals.
Remember that this time of year is about gratitude and giving thanks for all you have in your life. Your recovery and newfound sobriety are chiefly among the things you can feel thankful for this year. You’re a changed person, but your friends and family are likely still the same people. Here are sober techniques to enjoy a sober Thanksgiving with the most important people in your life.
5 Sober Techniques to Enjoy a Sober Thanksgiving
Avoid High-Risk Situations
This is easier said than done during the holidays, but you must know your triggers. To experience a sober Thanksgiving, you may need to:
- Stay away from old friends who are still using drugs or drinking to excess
- Recognize the family members who may set you off
- Have an exit strategy if the environment becomes toxic and dangerous to your sobriety
- Talk to members of your support network every day
- If traveling out of town for the holidays, seek out rehab meetings in that area
Surround Yourself With Supportive People
One of the sober techniques that can help facilitate a sober Thanksgiving is bringing a long-term clean friend with you to the celebrations. Having someone that understands, and has gone through similar situations successfully, allows you the important sounding board to speak honestly with about your thoughts and feelings. Having a supportive, sober buddy will greatly relieve any stress you might feel while trying to have a sober November this year.
Escape the Stress
During the holidays, there may come a time when you need to take time out and escape the stress. This is key to having a sober Thanksgiving. You may need to:
- Get outside
- Go for a walk
- Remind yourself of all the reasons you quit using
- Appreciate the autumn scenery
- Watch a sunrise/sunset
Be Useful
There’s a famous saying about idle hands so to enjoy a sober Thanksgiving, help out the host and yourself by doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, and asking what else you can do to help prep or clean up after the celebration. This helpful act may also help heal old wounds because maybe you were absent, drunk, or high and didn’t offer to be useful. Now, during your sober Thanksgiving, you can demonstrate your growth as a person, show gratitude to the host for having holiday parties in their home, and make amends.
Suggest Sober Thanksgiving for All
Not only are there usually more dinner rolls at the kids’ table, but there will also be no adult beverages meaning that’s one less trigger during mealtime this holiday season. A sober November can also be something you suggest all experience. If your family and friends are supportive and want to help you, they may agree to make root beer available instead of IPAs this year so you can have a sober Thanksgiving without worry.
Learn More at Midwest Recovery
You have so much to be thankful for this holiday season, but relapses can happen when the conditions are less than ideal. Learn how the sober techniques taught in Midwest Recovery programs can help you enjoy a sober Thanksgiving this year and aid in your ongoing recovery efforts. Contact us using our secure online form or call us at 833.627.0039 today.
