The holiday season can present an array of challenges to teens who are working diligently to remain sober. Holidays are usually associated with the joy of bringing friends and family together, but for teens on a mission to remain sober, it can also present some challenges. Destinations for Teens provides a comprehensive teen alcohol rehab to support young adults with substance use disorder. Contact us 877.466.0620 to help your teen learn how to fight their substance use disorder. A recent research study found that only 25 percent of people who try to quit drinking alcohol can successfully remain sober long-term. While this can be discouraging, it can also mean that we must actively use more strategies to support our teens. Here are three tips to support teens in having a sober holiday celebration. By helping teens learn specific strategies to participate in the holidays, we will be supporting them to:
- Remain connected to a support system
- Avoid relapse triggers
- Create realistic boundaries
Below, we will explore these tips for staying sober during holiday celebrations!
Remain Connected to a Sober Community Throughout the Holiday Season
Sober holiday celebrations with peers who have similar experiences will help your teen to feel confident that they can have fun and make lasting memories without substance use. Sober Christmas celebrations such as volunteering, hosting game nights, and other events are great ways for teens to feel joyous during the holiday season. For teens who are overcoming a substance use disorder, it is important that they have access to a supportive network. A community of their peers who are also living a sober life will help teens learn not to drink or use drugs during holiday celebrations. When teens feel like they could reach for a drink or use drugs at a holiday event, they need a list of reliable, sober peers they can call for support. If your teen wants to attend a holiday party when alcohol might be available, why not take a sober friend? A friend who knows how to have fun and withstand the temptation of substance use will be a great companion at any holiday celebration.
Understand Triggers and Avoid Relapses with Positive Sober Christmas Activities
Since the holiday season is often a time when people relapse, it is important to understand our teen’s triggers. This will help us support them as they work to remain sober. Triggers are any type of stimuli that cause users to seek substances such as alcohol or other drugs. Triggers can be certain people in their lives, memories of a specific place, or even objects. They are often categorized in the following ways:
- Environmental triggers such as an event or place that makes a teen associate with memory and then desire the drugs or alcohol
- Emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, or anxiety are considered stress triggers.
- Access to alcohol or drugs can prompt users to seek substances. This is considered re-exposure triggers because having drugs or alcohol within reach can cause teens to want to use
These triggers may cause a relapse if your teen does not learn strategies to navigate these moments. Family and friends can truly show their support for teens by hosting sober Christmas celebrations. This will help teens be present in a positive environment that encourages them to be a part of their community. Hosts of events can encourage people not to bring drugs or alcohol because the sobriety of guests is of utmost importance.
Create Realistic Boundaries That Will Support a Sober New Year
Once your teen understands the power associated with celebrating a sober Christmas, they will be inspired to go the extra mile. Since the next big holiday is New Year’s Eve and is traditionally associated with a toast, it is important to create boundaries to protect and support your teen. A sober New Year celebration should not restrain your teen. Instead, they should use the tools they’ve learned in teen alcohol rehab. One strategy is to set a time limit that will allow your teen to plan to arrive late or leave early. This way, they will not feel overwhelmed by the crowd or any triggers that might be present. Another way to create realistic boundaries is not to attend events with people who use drugs or alcohol recreationally. Instead, teens should seek out their sober community so that they are not compromising their recovery.
Teen Alcohol Rehab Available at Destinations for Teens
Celebrating a sober Christmas does not have to be difficult. Relying on friends and family to support your teen will help them remain sober. Help them remain alcohol or drug-free by practicing a sober New Year, too. The best practice: teach them to identify their triggers and help them set boundaries. However, if your teen does relapse, Destinations for Teens is here to help. Our teen alcohol rehab programs will provide your teen with a community of peers on the road to sobriety and supportive therapy programs. Contact 877.466.0620.
References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7960734/