Anxiety and addiction can be especially difficult when the holiday season comes around. The holidays are a time for joyous celebrations, but they’re also associated with overindulging party guests, loneliness, stress from family gatherings and other such common woes. This is a difficult time of year but you can get through it successfully by minding key methods for staying strong and maintaining support.
Anxiety and Addiction: A Killer Couple
Anxiety and addiction are two forces that often present themselves hand in hand. It cannot necessarily be said that one causes the other, but they can exert a mutual influence, worsening symptoms.
The Perils of the Holiday Season
The holidays seem to be the most joyous time of year for some and the most depressing for others. Thinking of loved ones who are no longer around, experiencing loneliness, or dwelling on other sad thoughts or disappointments can really alienate you when you are surrounded by holiday cheer.
Or the holidays may be a happy and exciting time for you, but struggles with anxiety and addiction may begin to grow as well as the temptation for relapse. All around you are people celebrating by focusing on overindulging in both food and drink. Yes, it’s a tougher time than most. Just remember that you are strong enough to get past New Year’s Day unscathed and feeling more confident than ever.
Advice for the Holidays
Here are a few tips to overcome anxiety and addiction this holiday season:
- Reach out to your support system. Surround yourself with supportive loved ones who are there for you and who are familiar with your struggles with anxiety and addiction. Go through this journey together.
- Reach out to your sponsor. Make it a point to let your sponsor know about your extra difficulty with anxiety and addiction during this time. He or she can be in contact with you more often – even if it’s via phone or email if they are away for the holidays.
- Go to meetings more often. Addiction meetings are always available for you to speak about your struggles and to hear about the struggles and triumphs of others. These meetings can help you know that you’re not alone and you can make it.
- Turn down invites for holiday events. This is especially true if you know the event will be centered on alcohol or other substances. If you do attend one of these events, be sure to make it very clear that you will not even hold a drink for someone and bring a strong and supportive loved one with you for physical and emotional support.
If you or a woman you love is having problems with drug abuse, alcohol dependency and mental illness, women’s drug rehab may be the answer. Remember that recovery from addiction and alcohol abuse treatment means learning how to cope with intensely emotional situations, and identifying when you need help and support. Treatment for addiction relapse, counseling, and aftercare can help you do this, so please call us today. Destination Hope is a full service addiction and women’s health treatment facility in Florida for women who suffer from substance abuse and behavioral health issues.
