The Christmas period can be an incredibly exciting time of year for many people, filled with parties, friends and family and celebrations but for those struggling with a drug addiction, the temptation to start using again can be significantly higher, making Christmas a very stressful time.
At Acquiesce, we understand that Christmas time can bring a lot of stress and anxiety for those struggling with drug addiction as well as those who have been in recovery for a number of years. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to resist drug temptation at Christmas, hoping to provide some helpful skills and tips to make the holidays less stressful.
Avoid Tempting Situations
If you are actively struggling with a drug addiction, or if you are in recovery but worry that you’ll relapse at Christmas, it’s important to know when and where your triggers will be most prevalent. For example, if you know attending a club or party is likely to involve lots of triggers, it would be sensible to skip it, or only make a quick appearance and leave before the party gets into full swing.
Similarly, if you think a friend or relative is likely to talk you into using, it may be wise to avoid spending as much time alone with this person, or setting clear boundaries so they know not to offer you anything.
Surround Yourself with a Sober Support Team
By surrounding yourself with supportive people who will help to keep you sober in the month ahead, you will be less likely to feel tempted to use drugs again. These people should also learn to recognise when you may be close to relapsing and provide extra support where necessary to remind you how far you have come and encourage you to use coping skills and strategies.
Know Your Limits
If you have a drug addiction, you may think it is a good idea to replace drugs with alcohol over the Christmas period, however, this can be incredibly detrimental for a number of reasons. To begin with, if you become drunk, your inhibitions are reduced and you may end up relapsing. Secondly, by replacing one substance with another in order to cope, you could potentially develop an alcohol addiction on top of a drug addiction.
That’s why it is generally best to avoid drinking over the Christmas period, or if you do, know your limits so you can stop and keep your wits about you.
Take Care of Yourself
When you’re battling an addiction during what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, it can be easy to feel negatively about yourself and put yourself down. However, it’s important to stay positive and focus on the good things, such as how far you’ve come. Be kind to yourself and take care of your mind and body as the better you feel in yourself, the less likely you will be to relapse.
Here are some tips on how to take care of yourself this Christmas:
- Get plenty of rest and sleep
- Maintain a healthy diet (but also allow yourself some treats such as chocolate and a big Christmas dinner)
- Try to do some gentle exercise
- Get as much fresh air and sunshine as possible by going on walks
Get the Right Kind of Professional Help
If you find yourself unable to fight the temptation to use drugs again, it may be time to reach out for professional help with an expert rehab centre such as Acquiesce. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call today for a free and confidential consultation and one of our recovery practitioners will be happy to discuss how we can help with drug rehabilitation.
