Planning a Sober Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, those continuing to manage their newfound sober lives after inpatient alcohol treatment or planning to celebrate a sober Thanksgiving another year can all be met with unique stresses and challenges. While the holiday can be a time to really reconnect with family and foster important relationships, it can also be a time of intense stress, triggers, and reminders of past use of drugs or alcohol. For many alumni, hosting their own sober celebration can be a great way to celebrate the holiday while still managing their own sobriety, and Hawaii Island Recovery can help achieve this goal.

For many alumni of dedicated alcohol or drug addiction treatment programs, the holidays can be exceptionally difficult to navigate. While an alumnus may want to engage in holiday festivities, there can be a plethora of challenges, from unhealthy expectations or traditions that may not align with a person’s sober goals to unforeseen stresses that demand dedicated coping strategies to process. As a result, many alumni may feel disconnected from others throughout the holiday festivities, or ostracized due to their sober ambitions. Others may feel as if they have to eschew such celebrations for the sake of their sobriety, feeling as if they are missing out on these important times or more disconnected from family and friends as a result.

However, sober alumni never have to completely avoid such holidays. Rather, it is always possible to change how Thanksgiving is celebrated to include each person and their sober goals, all while still managing a healthy and fulfilling sober life. 

Change is a constant throughout any stage of recovery, whether an individual is just beginning their first detox program or continuing to manage their sobriety as an alumnus. Embracing this change for a sober Thanksgiving is just as important for creating a healthy approach to the holiday that is consistent with a person’s sober goals. However, implementing such change can still be difficult, and alumni will have to make several adjustments to ensure their continued sobriety without falling into previously self-destructive routines. Planning ahead and working with the professionals at Hawaii Island Recovery can help each alumnus create an effective and fulfilling sober Thanksgiving. 

There is a wide range of understanding when it comes to words like “addiction” and “recovery,” and many of such words are still stigmatized. However, it is paramount that an individual clearly communicates the intentions behind any sober Thanksgiving gathering, especially if hosting such an event oneself. Ensuring that everyone is aware that it will be a sober Thanksgiving gathering and dinner can not only help each guest set appropriate expectations for the gathering but also prevent others from bringing addictive substances to the event unaware of such stipulations. 

Thanksgiving can be tied to any number of past traditions that may be connected to the use of drugs or alcohol. Watching Thanksgiving Day football while drinking throughout the holiday can be a common pastime for many. Even if an individual is eliminating alcohol from the celebrations, keeping such traditions can still bring up unnecessary stresses or triggers if a person’s body and mind are expecting to engage with addictive substances. Taking this opportunity to explore new traditions can help sober alumni separate past traditions from their newfound sober identity. 

Trying new traditions, bringing games, and more can all help to make this sober Thanksgiving Day into something unique and special, and set the tone for future celebrations going forward with friends and family. Likewise, focusing on the spirit of Thanksgiving can also be powerful, both on the spirit of community or truly taking a moment for each person to express thanks and acknowledge the important role that families and friends play in each others’ lives.

It can be difficult to predict exactly what stresses may be most difficult to navigate, or what may cause the onset of unexpected urges and cravings throughout an otherwise sober Thanksgiving. Having a sober partner to navigate the holiday and stay in contact with is paramount. A family member, active support, or a sponsor can provide the necessary support, and keep an individual accountable for their actions throughout the sober Thanksgiving celebrations.

Likewise, having supports around can also help to quickly enact escape plans as necessary in the event of unexpected stresses or challenges that may manifest throughout the day. 

While unfortunate, not all friends or family may be as supportive as others about an alumnus’s hard-earned sobriety, either through lack of understanding or support. In such situations, alumni can always curate a guest list to include only those who are supportive and understanding of their newfound sobriety. Not only can this further eliminate unnecessary high-risk situations, but it can also help each person focus more on the festivities rather than any lingering atmosphere hanging over addiction and recovery, empowering each person to better enjoy themselves, engage in new activities, and celebrate positive changes for a fulfilling sober Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving can be a great time to reconnect with family. However, it can also be difficult to relinquish past routines and traditions and prioritize a truly transformed and sober life. At Hawaii Island Recovery, we understand the challenges that come with navigating a sober Thanksgiving, and our community of peers and professionals alike are available to help you create an effective plan for the holiday. Through peer support and outpatient care options, we are always available to help you not only make a sober plan after inpatient alcohol treatment but also to create an entirely transformed and fulfilling Thanksgiving, all while helping address feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and more common throughout the recovery journey. Call us at (866) 390-5070.