
Christmas and especially New Year’s Eve can be a difficult time for people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. It’s a time of celebration but also one of expectation, where people commonly celebrate by attending parties and drinking which can be hard for those in recovery.
If you have just exited alcohol and drug rehab it can be hard to know how to navigate your way through this period. To ensure your sobriety, it’s important to know what triggers are out there, how to deal with this time of year and how you can have a good time without risking your substance abuse recovery.
Find out how to navigate New Year’s Eve in Recovery below:
The Significance of New Year’s in Recovery
New Year’s Eve is particularly difficult if you are in recovery. As a nation, we most commonly celebrate the new year by getting drunk and going to parties. Coming so soon after what is usually a stressful Christmas can lead to difficult times for people in recovery.
This emphasis on celebration and excess drinking is likely to put you in a difficult spot. It’s harder to avoid and you may feel you are missing out when everyone else is having fun. An alcohol-free New Year’s might be seen as dull and this sense of isolation can lead to potential relapse.
Planning Ahead for a Sober New Year’s Eve
A sober New Year’s Eve doesn’t mean a boring one. There are plenty of things you can do to bring in the new year without alcohol or drugs and still have a great time, without putting your rehabilitation at risk.
Some ways you can enjoy a New Year’s Eve sober include:
Game Night
Around the new year is a time for people to come together to have fun and argue over meaningless games. Tap into this friendly competitive atmosphere and host a game night where friends and family members can descend into chaos over games such as Monopoly or rounds of Mario Kart. A game night provides something for every age group and doesn’t require a total focus on alcohol to be enjoyable.
Hosting a Recovery-Friendly Gathering
If you want to avoid temptation, then make your event temptation-free. Hosting a party doesn’t need alcohol or other substances to succeed. You could enjoy mocktails rather than pints and put more emphasis on food. The gathering could be themed and require dress-up or if you are musically inclined the focus could be around jamming.
Film Marathon
Setting up a base camp and watching a string of movies alone or with others might just be what you need on a cold winter night. Everyone could bring a film option with them or you could watch some old classics.
Get Away
A New Year’s Eve sober is easier to achieve if you are away from your environment. Planning a getaway with your partner, friends or family will be just as enjoyable as if you were at a party.
Relax at Home
Just because it’s New Year’s Eve, who says you have to do anything? You’ve survived addiction so one night when most people are partying and you are not just another thing to conquer. You can have all the fun you want by doing nothing at all and relaxing at home if that’s what you’d rather do.
Recognising and Managing Triggers at New Year
Spending New Year’s Eve in recovery means staying on your toes and ensuring you don’t slip back into old habits. One way to help you is to be aware of your triggers and know how to manage them if they arise.
Relapse triggers may be particular to just you but here are some common triggers to recognise:
Stress
Mental health issues such as anxiety and stress can be more prevalent during the new year as there is a lot to deal with – social events, organising family time, presents, and worrying about what is coming in January. This stress can lead people back to bad habits and threaten a New Year’s Eve in recovery.
Peer Pressure
Being with people on New Year’s Eve can lead to situations you don’t want to be in. People may think they are helping you have fun by offering alcohol and other substances, making you feel pressured. Being under the influence may appear to be the “right” way to enjoy festivities so this pressure can lead you to indulge when you shouldn’t.
Loneliness
Not everyone celebrates with people, and just as peer pressure can be a trigger, being alone can too. It gives you time to think over old things and this may lead to you drinking again or taking drugs.
Seeing People From Your Past
Christmas and New Year means seeing friends and family. This could put you in contact with people who trigger or enable your addiction. Seeing such people can be harmful to your recovery.
How to Manage New Year’s Eve in Recovery
Now you know some common relapse triggers, here are strategies to manage them:
Prepare Beforehand
Being in recovery you should have coping mechanisms at your disposal. Practice these before you go to any event or party so you are sharp when and if you need them.
Having a Support Person
Going with another sober person or someone completely familiar with your recovery can be helpful. They can help you out of an uncomfortable situation and hold you accountable if you feel like you might slip up.
Having an Exit Plan
Going into a situation knowing how you will get out will relieve a lot of anxiety. Make plans for someone to pick you up or be sure to have a taxi number or rideshare app handy so you can make a swift exit if you need.
Learn to Say No
Saying no to alcohol or drugs isn’t rude. Decide how you will politely turn down drinks or any other tempting substances and stick to it, as being firm and knowing what to say will make it easier to avoid peer pressure.
Celebrating Without Compromising Recovery
As stated above, there are ways to enjoy New Years Eve in recovery without drinking or taking drugs. The best way to celebrate is to focus on why you are celebrating. You’re sober, you’re with friends and family and a new year is around the corner – filled with endless possibilities.
The best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve is by honouring your recovery journey. Stay healthy by exercising and eating well, engage in hobbies and see people you love and enjoy.
After time in drug and alcohol rehab, you don’t need the pressure of New Year’s Eve – so don’t put it on yourself. Do what is best for yourself. It’s only one night of the year after all and your recovery journey is far more important.
Reach Out for Support Today
New Year’s Eve can be hard for people in recovery so it’s important to lean on your support networks. Your time after rehab is still part of the journey, so being with others and enjoying the time of year responsibly is achievable and will be better than relapsing.
Rehab Clinics Group provides expert addiction treatment through our network of private drug and alcohol rehabs. If you want to start the new year off on the right foot, by beginning your recovery journey, get in touch today.
If you need help to navigate New Year’s Eve in recovery, call Rehab Clinics Group at 0800 470 0382 or text HELP to 83222 to learn more.