The holidays are upon us, and you may be getting a bit anxious. Whether this is your first sober holiday or you have been through several, you still know how difficult it can be at times to have sober celebrations with friends. One thing that helps is having sober friends who are willing to forgo alcohol and still enjoy celebrating. There are many ways you can enjoy the season without having to give in to temptation. At Santé Center for Healing, we help you take a look at a few of the ways you can enjoy sober celebrations with friends.
Cultivate Allies
Talk with friends and family members about your concerns. Gather allies that will help you enjoy sober celebrations with friends by being willing to host alcohol-free gatherings. In other cases, they can at least make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic choices at gatherings and include a few other guests who won’t be drinking. If being around alcohol is difficult for you, maybe your friends and family can get together with you outside of a big celebration. Plan a dinner out or celebrate the day before a big holiday with just a few friends. You may be surprised at how willing people who care are to help you in your endeavor to get substance abuse treatment.
Plan the Celebration
Now may be the perfect time for you to plan your own sober celebration with friends. Host a pot luck dinner or set up a game night with several friends and family members. When you are the host, it is easy to determine that there won’t be any alcohol available. If you know you won’t want to attend a family gathering because of temptation, let your family members know this is your way of celebrating with them to show you care but still being able to maintain your sobriety. Many will welcome your thoughtfulness and understand your concern.
Have an Escape Plan
If you do choose to attend a gathering where you know there will be alcohol, there are some things you can do to help you maintain your sobriety after attending a drug and alcohol rehab center and still enjoy the celebration.
- Bring your own beverage. This way, you won’t have to depend on the host providing an appropriate selection. If you don’t want to explain to people why you aren’t drinking, you can carry a glass of ginger ale or other colored beverage that looks like alcohol. This will also give you an excuse to say no if someone offers you a drink. You already have one.
- Check out all the exits when you arrive. If things get too intense, take a walk outside. Breathe deeply and clear your mind. If you feel like returning later, you can but never feel that you have an obligation to do so.
- Arrange with someone outside the gathering to call after a certain period and find an excuse to come and get you. This works especially well if you feel you want to make an appearance but think staying too long will be troublesome.
- Have a sober friend attend with you. You can keep each other occupied and share your resolve to stay sober.
Santé Center For Healing
If you are in the Texas area and feel this is the time to reach out for help to start on a sober holiday, reach out and contact us at 866.238.3154 and speak with someone in our intake office. Having sober friends is one of the easiest ways to have sober celebrations with friends. We can help you gather the tools you need to get sober and stay sober. You don’t have to do this alone. We are here to help get you on your feet and on your way. Let this be your first sober holiday by contacting us today.
