While the holidays are a great way to spend time with family members and loved ones, drinking and drug use is also prevalent at many celebrations and parties. Celebrating a sober New Year’s is tough because more men and women binge drink on New Year’s than any other holiday in the United States. Overall, 47% of men and 40% of women engage in binge drinking on New Year’s. The prevalence of drinking on New Year’s also makes it the second most dangerous day to drive, as traffic fatalities skyrocket due to drunk driving.
When you’re in recovery, celebrating a sober New Year’s may seem like a monumental task. Luckily, there are more people in recovery than struggling with a substance abuse disorder in the United States, meaning there are plenty of ways to celebrate a sober New Year’s. Men’s and women’s rehab center in Dallas provides support for those suffering from substance abuse disorder year-round.
Holidays and Addiction
Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol often take center stage during holidays like New Year’s. Some of the busiest days at bars and drinking establishments correlate with winter holidays, like Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Holidays can also be challenging if you’re in recovery because of the widespread availability of drugs and alcohol, making it hard to avoid a relapse. The holiday season often means stress, especially if you have fractured or damaged relationships with your loved ones or family.
Celebrating a sober New Year’s opens an opportunity to rebuild relationships with family and friends. Ask your loved ones to participate in the family therapy program in Texas.
Holidays can also become challenging if you don’t live close enough to celebrate with loved ones or friends, or if you don’t have any living family members. Depression is also more common during the winter holidays, which can make it easier to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol.
Some other common holiday triggers that can make it hard to celebrate a sober New Year’s include:
- Financial problems
- Loneliness
- Time off from work
- Alcohol-fueled parties
- Drinking specials at bars and restaurants
Struggling with your sobriety on New Year’s is also dangerous because the rate of overdoses and alcohol-related deaths is exceptionally high.
How to Celebrate a Sober New Year’s
So, how do you celebrate a sober New Year’s when you’re in recovery or struggling with your sobriety? If you’re active in a peer-led support group, like AA, NA, or SMART Recovery, it’s a great idea to ask your home-group if there are any sober New Year’s events. Many times, groups like AA host sober celebrations for major holidays because it’s difficult to avoid drugs and alcohol otherwise.
If you enjoy spending the holidays with your family or loved ones, consider talking to your family about eliminating alcohol from family parties. It’s also a great idea to talk to sober friends and family members, even if they’re not in active recovery, about making sober New Year’s plans.
There are also plenty of sober New Year’s family-friendly celebrations. Another great way to celebrate a sober New Year’s is to plan an alcohol and drug-free party. For example, you can have a board game party or a movie night at your house. If you plan on going out for New Year’s, make sure to have your transportation plans in place in case the event ends up serving alcohol. This way you can easily leave if a part or celebration ends up having drugs or alcohol available.
Also, if you’re struggling with cravings, reach out to your sponsor or therapist to ensure that those cravings don’t end with a potentially deadly relapse. Relapse doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Addiction is a chronic disease and relapse may signify the need for participation in aftercare programs in Dallas, TX.
Reaching Out for Help Today
When you’re in recovery, you may struggle to find ways to celebrate a sober New Year’s. But sobriety doesn’t mean you have to give up having fun or participating in holiday celebrations. Making plans before the holiday approaches is the best way to have a healthy, sober New Year’s plan. Contact The Right Step Dallas if you are struggling with your sobriety or need help to strengthen your recovery. Call us today at 1.844.768.1161 for drug and alcohol rehab programs.
