Holiday = Relapse?

July 6th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Food, drink, and festive spirits are the order of the day when holidays are among us. Be it Easter (which coincides with spring break), Fourth of July, Christmas, or New Year’s, holidays— and birthdays— have long been excuses for the drunk at heart to engage in hedonistic indulge and exercise impaired judgment. Even Halloween parties have become fodder for excess. While most people are able to get off and on the wagon with relative ease, where people in recovery are concerned, indulging in any fashion can lead to relapse. And where holidays are concerned, the desire to have a good time is not the only—or even primary—cause of relapse for recovering addicts.

Perhaps the biggest cause of relapse during the holidays is stress. Food and alcohol are central to most holiday celebrations as it is, and food and alcohol are among the most common forms of addiction. It is common for people to cope with stress by turning to food, which can more than simply add a few pounds and inches to the waistline for binge eaters. Stress can also be a trigger for drug and alcohol abuse and relapse. Holidays can be overwhelming for recovering addicts, especially those who have newly minted sobriety. Increased use of drugs and alcohol are the main causes for the higher rates of suicide, violence, automobile accidents, and overdoses during holidays as compared to other days in the year.

Christmas and New Years are the holidays most likely to trigger relapse, as they’re celebrated during the vaunted “holiday season.” Expectations tend to be highest during this time: having friends and family to spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve with; buying the ideal gifts for loved ones, and those that fit within your sometimes meager budget; going into debt if those gifts you purchase don’t fall within your financial plan; and being surrounded by advertising and other visual and auditory stimuli implicitly and explicitly promoting the expectation of joy and happiness on the general public.

People with a tendency towards isolating might be more prone to do so during the holiday season as a means to escape the daily reminders that they are not “insiders” or “normal.” When it seems like the vast majority of the world’s population is immersed in the spirit of the season and connecting and reconnecting with those near and dear to their hearts, the isolator may see his life may seem empty and hollow by comparison. Holidays tend to be reminders for those lacking strong familial connections that they are unable to partake in holiday festivities in the ways that are generally expected, bringing copious amounts of depression, anxiety, and sadness in the process.

Not having close family and friends to rely on during the holidays can also be a major factor in relapse, as family can often be the support system addicts turn to in times of stress and vulnerability. It is recommended that those in recovery exercise the utmost caution to avoiding negative stressors that may trigger relapse. Keeping up with hobbies and constructive activities is another good way to avoid holiday relapse, assuming you have any to fall back on. It is hard to imagine anyone sustaining recovery without such interests to occupy his or her time. Whether it is knitting, golf, music, gardening, genealogy, walks on the beach, cycling, flying kites, drawing or painting, reading, or any other activity that stimulates your interest in a non-destructive way, hobbies can be an invaluable distraction from the stressors most likely to cause relapse.

For those unable to keep their recoveries intact during the holiday season, treatment centers are available in every state, and those nearest you, offering the highest quality treatment, and best suited to your needs best can be located at theTreatment4Addiction website. If you or someone you know has relapsed or needs treatment for a substance abuse problem, check the T4A directory and begin your road to recovery as soon as possible. Sobriety is awaiting those willing to make the commitment to achieving it!

Sources:

“Tis the Season for Celebrations.” Council on Drug Abuse. 2011.
Lilienthal, Dr. Heidi. “Holiday Stress.” Psych Central. 15 Sep 2002. Web. 06 Jul 2012.
“7 Tips for Preventing Addiction Relapse Over the Holidays.” Clearview Treatment Programs. 21 Nov 2011. Web. 06 Jul 2012.

“Stress management.” Mayo Clinic. 04 Nov 2011. Web. 06 Jul 2012.

By Greg L.