For Those Who Struggle With Sobriety During The Holidays, There’s Hope

addiction recovery ebulletin Karen McGinnis outreach

You Are Not Alone –

Dec. 17, 2019 – Some in recovery may feel the only way they can cope with the holidays is to completely disconnect and not go to family functions or parties. McGinnis said that’s “a scary place to be.” She adds it’s very common for people to isolate because they don’t want to deal with socializing, but “what we need to be mindful of as a person in recovery is the value of positive social influence.”

She says the answer is to do the opposite of isolating. “I think it’s really important to surround yourself with people who are in recovery and have that strong network,” McGinnis said. That way, when a trigger or something does come up, “you can pick up the phone right away and you have a handful of people that you can call and say, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on. This is how I feel.’ “

McGinnis believes complete avoidance is also dangerous because it can lead to relapse. “I’m probably going to be in my head, and ultimately think that hey, you know what, no one’s watching. It might be OK for me to go get some eggnog and celebrate tonight,” McGinnis said. McGinnis recommends a tool called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.