Managing Holiday Anxiety in Sobriety

Photo by Bart LaRueon Unsplash

As an adult, the holidays are a little more complicated than when we were kids. Buying gifts, traveling, and attending festivities can add up financially, and meeting every social and family obligation expected of you is more difficult than it sounds. And if you are in recovery, the boozy parties that have become synonymous with the season can make the holidays even harder.

When you are in recovery, figuring out healthy ways to cope with stressful situations is an important tool for sobriety. Here are some easy things you can do to help create a plan for managing your holiday anxiety.

Take Time for Yourself

With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, people tend to get swept up in what they need to do for others and rarely take a moment for themselves. Setting aside a few minutes or even a few hours every day for self-care is critical to your sobriety. Here are a few healthy ways to show yourself love.

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Prepare for Difficult Situations

A great way to prevent anxiety is to prepare yourself for reacting to stressful situations. Going to holiday parties when you are in recovery means being surrounded by temptation. To keep from isolating yourself, have a plan for dealing with stressful social situations.

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Care for Your Body

The mind and body are intrinsically connected -- so to fully care for the anxiety you feel in your mind, it’s important to provide care for your body. Eating a well-rounded diet and leading an active lifestyle are two important pieces of the puzzle.

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The holidays are full of anxiety landmines. If you are sober, you have the added stress of dealing with the temptations all around you. Managing stress with healthy coping tactics can help keep you on track, and don’t forget to take time to check in with yourself every day to assess how you’re feeling.