There are plenty of people who will tell you they love the last couple of months on each year’s calendar. Indeed, they might even lean into the idea that this is “the most wonderful time of the year.” And they might be baffled if you seem to disagree.
But for many other people, the end of the year is filled with things like stress, sadness, and mental health difficulties. And for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, those challenges can present a threat to their hard-won sobriety.
Let’s look at a few of the potential problems that pop up toward the end of the year—and consider some ways to address them effectively so that they don’t upend your recovery.
The Lack of Light Can Lead to Trouble
As the year winds down, the days get shorter and the temperatures in many places go lower. That can make it much harder to get out in the sun to soak up some vitamin D, which in turn can have a negative impact on your mental health. Whether or not you have been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), it can be a good idea to do what you can to replicate the benefits of sunlight.
You can, of course, be intentional and intrepid when it comes to getting exposure to sunlight in the winter. Bundling up and heading outdoors is a worthwhile approach. But there are other things you can do as well.
For example, you might add a vitamin D supplement to your daily routine. You can increase the amount of vitamin D you take in via food. And you can invest in a lightbox that replicates sunlight so that you can get its benefits without venturing outdoors.
The Uptick in Stress Can Undermine Your Merriness
In theory, the holiday season should be joyful, but even the biggest fans of the year’s biggest holidays would likely admit that they come with plenty of stress. Excessive stress can be the enemy of sobriety, so it is important to find ways to manage it effectively.
For example, you should remind yourself that it is okay to turn down invitations to activities that you might find draining rather than joyful. Remind yourself that it is okay to keep gifts simple and inexpensive so that you aren’t stressed out by crowds or sizable blows to your budget. Remind yourself that holiday traditions that lead to stress rather than happiness are probably not useful traditions for a person in recovery.
Also, you should stick to the routines that serve you well all year long and help you manage stress. Those routines will be unique to you, of course, but might include practicing mindfulness, writing regularly in a journal, sticking to your sleep and exercise habits, eating healthfully, going to recovery meetings, and more.
Finding ways to keep stress at bay is one of the best gifts you can give yourself during this time of year.
Finding Your Way Through Family Gatherings
Maybe your family has lots of expectations around the holidays. Just the question of who will visit whom—and when—can lead to confusion, hurt feelings, and attempts to defy the limits of time and space to keep everyone happy.
But family gatherings can include an additional pitfall for a person in recovery. Your family members—even the best-intentioned of them—may have lots of questions about your struggles with drugs or alcohol. And they might have “advice” to share that they are confident will improve your situation.
It is absolutely essential that you remember that your recovery story is your own—and you get to decide if to share it, when to share, and how much of it to share. You can choose to smile and nod when a member of your family offers advice because you will have received accurate, useful information during your treatment program. You can also choose to politely excuse yourself when someone insists on telling you what they “know” about substance use disorders and recovery. If and when things get tense or uncomfortable, you can choose to leave a family gathering early. That may result in a few hurt feelings, but your priority has to be protecting your sobriety—which can include protecting your privacy.
We Are Here to Help Any Time of Year
At Bel Aire Recovery Center—located near Wichita, Kansas—we are dedicated to the project of helping the people we serve regain and maintain their sobriety. We offer personalized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based practices as well as our expertise, experience, and empathy. Bel Aire Recovery Center’s programs include inpatient, outpatient, and virtual options designed to meet each person’s individual needs. When you are ready to transform your life, we are ready and able to help.
