Staying sober is the best gift you can give yourself right now. The holidays are a time for fun, fellowship, joy and laughter. But they also can be stressful, especially for newcomers. This month, we feature stories by members who found ways to stay sober through the holidays, while maintaining their serenity.

• Your gut will tell you when something doesn’t feel right.
• In recovery, these aren’t luxuries, they’re survival tools.
• Eventually, I was caught drinking alone in a janitor’s closet.

How I Stayed Sober Till New Year’s

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Many addicts swell up with pride after conquering the holidays sober but when the holidays are over, they think they deserve a reward and bam! Don’t sober holidays assume that you’ll be able to handle these events alone. Being newly sober is a major adjustment.

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• Give the joy away, and it will be yours to keep.
• My father left shortly afterward, and now my sister and I had the house to ourselves.
• The holidays tend to focus heavily on the importance of family connection.
• Give yourself a break by letting go of the need to meet the expectations of others.

But for those newly sober and in recovery, it can also be a difficult time of year due to the fact that there is often alcohol or other substances around you in the midst of these social gatherings. The holiday season revolves around unrelenting themes of gratitude, abundance, and celebration. People in recovery can manage Christmas better by planning ahead of the big day. Consider which of your relapse prevention tools might also help you stay sober at Christmas. That might look like attending a morning meeting, calling your sponsor for support, or spending time with a sober friend.

This means paying close attention to any whiff of discomfort that you feel. Don’t ignore those feelings because they are your signposts to avoid relapse. Your gut will tell you when something doesn’t feel right. Knowing how to handle these types of challenges can ease anxiety and avoid temptation. Write out a few short comments explaining why you won’t be drinking. First, decide how you’re going to respond when offered substances.

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Started working with other alcoholics as soon as he finished his last treatment which was a 5 to 7 day stay in the hospital back in the 1930s. On behalf of the team at Common Ground, we hope you have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family, and that you have the tools to keep your recovery strong. Members work together to help the alcoholic who still suffers. Helping each other is a key to staying sober. There are many opportunities to participate in a variety of ways. The best place to start getting involved is through an A.A.

From old memories, family dynamics and the pressure to be constantly cheerful, it’s normal for holiday expectations to feel like an all-too-heavy weight. If someone you care about has a drinking problem, A.A. Has helped more than two million alcoholics stop drinking.

Recovery Support

I have learned also, through loving without undue expectations, through sharing my concerns and caring for my fellow man, that each day can be joyous and fruitful. I begin and end my day with Sober living home thanks to God, who has so generously shed His grace on me. That’s the craziest idea I had ever heard. “Yes, our home group, the Port Washington Group, has an all-day AA meeting on that day,” he said. “Many meetings do this on holidays.