How to Avoid Relapse on Thanksgiving

Family gatherings for holidays like Thanksgiving may be uncomfortable if you are in addiction recovery. However, it can be a wonderful and supportive experience if you have the right coping strategies to manage difficult situations. Find out how to make the celebration less stressful.

Staying Sober as a Thanksgiving Guest

From what you bring to your departure plan, here are a few tips to try if you are attending a family event or going to a friend’s house this year for Thanksgiving:

1. Bring a sober friend. Having a supportive friend by your side can ease the tension. Especially, if it is someone who knows your concerns about different people and will be able to help you through awkward situations. Also, family members may be on better behavior if you bring someone along.
2. Have an escape plan. If you show up to Thanksgiving dinner and it’s clear before the first round of appetizers is served, that this situation is just not where you should spend the day, there’s nothing stopping you from hitting the road. You can do so gracefully by having an escape route at the ready – a friend in need, a crisis at work, or whatever suits your situation. Politely make your regrets and thank the host for the invitation on your way out.
3. Bring your own beverage. There are plenty of festive non-alcoholic beverages to drink.  Bring a couple of bottles of sparkling apple cider, kombucha, tea, or another beverage you enjoy. You may find that others will want to enjoy those beverage options as well.

If you are open to trying something new this Thanksgiving, you can:

1. Host a nontraditional Thanksgiving. Why not host your own Thanksgiving this year? And why not make it fun and different? Pick a theme and ask everyone to bring a dish that represents that theme in some way. Make it a tree-trimming party, have everyone bring a different ornament, and decorate your house for the holidays together after you eat. Of course, you can choose the guest list and make it clear that it’s a sober event.
2. Get out of town. If it’s just too much for you to stay home and be by yourself on Thanksgiving, and you have nowhere you’d like to go, take a vacation instead. While some places may be packed due to the holiday, others will be wide open for the same reason, so take your time to look around and see what’s available. Then, spend the long weekend exploring a new place.
3. Attend a sober Thanksgiving event. There are numerous sober organizations that host Thanksgiving meals and other events over the long holiday for people in recovery. Talk to your therapist and ask around at 12-Step meetings to find out what is happening.
4. Go to a 12-Step meeting or a sober support group. Some support groups may not meet over the holidays because so  Find out which of your regular meetings will be available to you, and find alternative meetings and support groups if necessary. If you are going out of town, check ahead of time for meetings in the area.
5. Volunteer on Thanksgiving Day. Homeless shelters, churches, synagogues, and nonprofit organizations all hold Thanksgiving meals and request the assistance of volunteers. It’s a great time to give back to the community and help others.

Remember, your recovery comes first, and when it comes to attending any type of function you need to make the decision that is right for you. Recovery is a lifelong process and relapse is often part of the journey to sobriety. If you are struggling and looking for rehab near Tampa, River Oaks Treatment Center can help.