Addiction Recovery Coach: The 5 Big Triggers for Holiday Relapse!

Well it’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving through New Years Eve. This should be a time of joy, family, giving and receiving. But for some it’s that dreaded time of year that sparks a dangerous relapse back into drugs and alcohol. Why would such a joyous time of year bring some recovering addicts back to their very own dark place? Today we here at Top Rated Addiction Recovery and Sober Coaching Services want to look at 5 very serious Holiday triggers.

Lets start with the most obvious, shall we?

#1 The holiday season is packed full of Parties. Parties that have lots of alcohol. Hosts of these parties may not realize just how much damage can be done to someone in recovery just being around alcohol.

#2 Family Issues. Being around family members that you may have issues with can lead you back to using.

#3 Keeping up with the dreaded Holiday Schedule. Some recovering addicts get completely overwhelmed with this demanding schedule.

The next issue is a big one,

#4 Finances! Addicts, especially early in recovery may not have the finances to fulfill what they feel is acceptable for the holidays.

#5 Emotions.  Addicts in recovery are full of guilt, shame and regret. These feelings can get extremely magnified during the holiday season.

This goes both ways to help keep a recovering addict from relapsing during the holidays. Those in recovery need to be extremely mindful and careful of their surroundings and feelings during this time period and the friends and loved ones of those in recovery need to be extremely mindful and sensitive to these feelings and triggers as well.

Here is a link that gives pointers in not relapsing during the holidays https://www.hazelden.org/web/public/holiday_articles.page