If you’re working on your sobriety journey, you may find yourself feeling anxious at the thought of the holidays. It can be hard to break old habits, especially when family stress runs high. The key to staying sober Thanksgiving can be as simple as having a plan before someone offers you a drink. At Crestview Recovery, our Portland drug rehabilitation center, we teach our clients how to navigate the rough waters of staying sober throughout the holiday season. Check out these tips on how to pass on the booze without making waves.
Staying Sober During Thanksgiving: Four Tips
If you’re ready to stay sober this Thanksgiving (and beyond), you’ll want to have a game plan to get you through the holiday. These tried-and-true ideas can help make your healthy, sober lifestyle easier to stick to in November and December.
- Expect resistance. If the sober lifestyle is new to you, it may come as a shock to friends and family. Those you used to bond with over alcohol may feel disappointed or sad, realizing you won’t be partaking this year. This is normal, and it says more about their relationship with alcohol than it does about their relationship with you. Remember, you decided to get sober for a reason. You don’t owe anyone an explanation unless you feel comfortable discussing your sobriety.
- Have an excuse for pushy relatives. Honesty is a great policy. But when boozy Uncle Joe tries to hand you a wine glass for the fifth time after you’ve politely declined, you may not feel like discussing the nitty-gritty of your recovery. A white lie can go a long way in getting a booze pusher to lay off. For instance, saying you’re on medication that doesn’t mix with alcohol, headed to the gym after, or on a new diet can work.
- Ask for support. No matter how stressful your family may be, it’s likely that you have at least a few people you can turn to in tough times. Talk to them before family gatherings about your sobriety, and ask for their support. They may choose to not drink with you, or they may be able to keep you busy in tempting situations.
- Work your recovery. Whether that means hitting up a meeting on Thanksgiving morning or keeping your sponsor on standby, use the tactics that work for you. Remember, you need to work your sobriety plan every day. You can’t take the day off because it’s a holiday, or because you have a lot going on. Your recovery needs to continue to be a priority, especially over the holiday season.
Struggling with Sobriety? We Can Help
If you want to stay sober this Thanksgiving, but you’re feeling stuck, we’re here to help. At Crestview Recovery, we offer several treatment programs, including:
- Women’s Alcohol Rehab Center
- Men’s Alcohol Rehab Center
- Outpatient Drug Rehab Center
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Family Therapy Program
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center
At Crestview Recovery, we’ll work with you to help you choose which of our research-backed programs makes the most sense for your needs. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness – it’s a sign of strength. If you’re thinking about staying sober this Thanksgiving but aren’t sure where to start, giving us a call is a great way to take the first step toward recovery.
Call Crestview Recovery
If you’re looking up ways to stay sober this Thanksgiving, you already know that you’re struggling with alcohol. You don’t have to do this alone. At Crestview Recovery, we’re here to help you get back to the healthy, happy life you deserve. So if you are thinking about staying sober this thanksgiving, call us today at 866.262.0531 to learn more about the programs we offer.
We’re looking forward to helping you get your life back.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
