By: Kelli Wagner, Behavioral Health Technician, The Meadows
Christmas carols, the spirit of giving, joy and laughter; this is what the holidays are all about…right?
The holidays can be a lot of fun but for a person in recovery they can also be a bit overwhelming at times. The holidays usually mean spending time with family. We may have found recovery but that doesn’t necessarily mean that our family has.
Our families don’t always understand that to us, our sobriety and new way of life comes before all else.
- I have found that ensuring that I am spiritually fit before attending family functions is essential.
- Attending a 12 step meeting before spending time with family on the holidays is never a bad idea.
- If your family is struggling with addiction themselves, you may want to consider whether or not to attend the function at all. If you decide to attend it may be a good idea to drive yourself so if you feel that it is time to go it is easy for you to do so.
The holidays can still be fun in recovery as long as we remember to set boundaries and put our recovery first. What steps will you take to maintain your recovery during the holidays?
