Sober Survival Series – Tis The Season to Protect Your Sobriety – Navigating through Christmas events
Well Halloween has been and gone, so we are now full steam ahead to Christmas! Whether you have been sober for a period of time or you are just getting use to your new alcohol-free life. The thought of Christmas may instead of filling to feelings of joy, can be feelings of dread and anxiety toward the festive parties and gatherings that lay ahead. I know how you are feeling, as I too have been there. At the start I wanted to do everything I could to protect my sobriety and not put myself in situations where the temptation to drink was too overwhelming. Whilst this is completely normal, it doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy Christmas time and remember, true sobriety is being able to live and function in a world of alcohol but you have the control to not drink.
Living an alcohol-free life is something that is a continual learning and developmental path and Christmas is a great time to prove to yourself just how far you have come with your sobriety. In this blog, I wanted to put together some of my top tips on what you can do (and implement) should you be feeling nervous about Christmas and keeping your sobriety in-check.
#1 Lean on a support partner
Having someone that you trust and can confide in who is also there to help you when triggers present themselves is something which is so important in sobriety. Whether you are attending a work Christmas party or you are seeing family and friends over the festive period, having someone who is there to help you should you need it really can take away a lot of the stress that these social gatherings can cause. Whether they are also going to not drink at the same place where you are or they are just there for you to talk to if you are struggling, having someone who has your back really can be such a huge difference and make a positive impact. You can go on to enjoy your time at the event without worrying if alcohol is going to take over.
The key here is having a support partner that you can trust and you feel you can confide in and supports your new alcohol-free lifestyle.
#2 Don’t be afraid to say NO
Since lockdown I have really improved with being able to say no to things that I don’t want to do. Putting mine and my family’s health and wellbeing first has been the most important thing to me to ensure we are remain safe. I promised myself that from now on if there is something that I don’t want to do, or somewhere that I don’t want to go, then I will stop people pleasing and do what is right for me. You have to do the same as well to protect your new alcohol-free life. If you currently don’t feel able to attend a Christmas event because you are concerned that temptation to drink may be too overwhelming, then don’t feel bad with declining the invite. Sometimes we do things because we are worried about hurting other people’s feelings but not taking into account what it means for our own mental wellbeing.
You don’t have to tell people that you don’t want to go to something if you don’t want to. Just have an excuse ready that you already have other plans.
Obviously, you won’t want to turn down every invite in the future and as mentioned above, learning how to cope and have the willpower to be in situations where alcohol and temptation to drink are present need to be faced, so you can live a life of sobriety without missing out. However, if you currently don’t feel ready for this, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with putting yourself and your goals first this Christmas.
#3 Alcohol-free drinks are your friend
Life has moved on dramatically (thank goodness) over the past decade with the selection of alcohol-free drinks that are available. Gone are the days where someone who is in sobriety can only order orange juice when out (think of Phil Mitchell in Eastenders). There are now a huge selection of alcohol-free alternatives available. My advice is to find particular AF drinks that you love and have some for special occasions, so whether you are going out to an event, have people over or you are visiting family or friends and others who are drinking alcohol, you won’t feel like you are missing out by being able to have a treat AF drink that you enjoy.
Remember, just because you no longer drink alcohol does not mean that you can’t enjoy the vast array of alcohol-free options that are out there. I am aware that alcohol-free alternatives are not popular with everyone who are in recovery, but they have been great for me and numerous others.
I hope this blog goes someway to help you if you are feeling anxious about this Christmas and what might lay in store. The fact you are concerned about it shows just how committed you are to alcohol-free living and that you don’t want anything to jeopardise it. I would love to hear from you in the comments section below about your feelings toward Christmas. Also, if you also have any tips on navigating through the festive period, then please do share them with us.
If you feel like you could also benefit from some extra support with your sobriety over the Christmas period, then please do check out the following:
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