Fort Lauderdale rehab is getting ready for the holidays, and that means helping you prepare for them as well. Staying sober during the holiday season can be a challenge, but it is achievable. Have a solid relapse prevention plan in place and take some time to think through how you would like to approach the holiday season.  The more time you invest in preparation, the stronger your recovery can become.

Fort Lauderdale Rehab: Staying Sober Over the Holidays

Relapse Prevention Plan

Come up with a list of possible scenarios over the holiday season that could lead to relapse. Examples may include:

• A work Christmas party
• Family reunion
• Gathering with friends
• New Year’s Eve party

First, remember that you don’t have to go to any of these events. Saying no is always an option. If you do choose to attend, create a plan for staying sober. Make sure that you have a non-alcoholic drink in your hand. Plan to leave after a certain amount of hours. Bring a supportive friend or relative. Practice saying ‘no’ to the offer of alcohol or drugs. Having a very clear strategy for avoiding relapse will help you stay sober. Fort Lauderdale rehab can help you design an easy-to-follow relapse prevention program if you aren’t sure where to start.

Alternative Events

Having a substance-free holiday doesn’t mean sacrificing fun or family time. Think about the people you’d really like to spend the holidays with. If they support you and your recovery, why not arrange to get together? You can host an alcohol-free party or gift exchange. You could meet at a coffee shop or bookstore, go see a film or take a pottery class. There are a number of ways to get together with friends that can keep you busy and sober.

Set Goals

Don’t view the holiday season as one long stretch of time. Instead, break it down into sections. Focus on getting through the holidays that are important to you, whatever they may be. Fort Lauderdale rehab suggests that you could work on getting through Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year’s, one at a time. By setting short-term, achievable goals, you may find that you’ve accomplished the long-term goal of a sober holiday season.

Opt Out

Depending on where you are in your recovery process, your emotions may simply be too raw to deal with the holidays. That’s perfectly okay. If you have a complicated relationship with your family, or are in the process of cutting out toxic friendships, don’t put pressure on yourself to see them. Turn instead to your sponsor or counselors from your Fort Lauderdale rehab program. Keep your recovery as your #1 priority, no matter what time of year it happens to be.

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.