The holiday season is tough for people affected by addiction. This year it's looking even more so, as COVID-19 continues to keep us isolated from friends, family, and support systems.
If you could use some help coping at this time of year, here are some helpful resources.
9 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays While Maintaining Recovery
10 Holiday Season Management Tips from a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Handling the Holidays After Loss
Preparing for Holiday Challenges to Recovery, Smart Recovery
How to Cope If You Are Spending This Holiday Season Alone, The Temper
Navigating the Holidays in Recovery, Harvard Health
Why Are the Holidays So Stressful to People in Addiction Recovery? Workit Health
Holiday Survival Plan worksheet, Taking the Escalator
Created by three fathers whose children are living with substance use disorders, this podcast follows the style of a support group meeting, with parents sharing on a variety of topics with honesty and heart. In particular, check out episodes “You Are Not Alone” and “Holidays, Birthdays, and Weddings.”
Hosts Lisa Smith and Tawny Lara are both in recovery, though each has followed a different path to get there. The topics they cover range from relationships to social media to LGBTQ+ concerns, all through the lens of the recovery experience. Season 4 just kicked off last week, and the first episode is perfectly timely: “Sober During the Holidays… During a Pandemic.”