Is celebrating Halloween sober that difficult? How can you cope without allowing the triggers and cravings to get in the way of your commitment to recovery?
If you’re reading this and you’re in recovery from some form of addiction, whether it’s a substance or a an activity such as gambling and mobile gaming addiction, then you’re in for a treat (not trick!).
For those who are in recovery, holidays such as Halloween can be especially scary, if not challenging. Holidays, after all, are the haunting grounds of familiar triggers. At every turn, you may run into situations, people, and places that remind you of your life in active addiction. These may make you crave for drugs or alcohol.
So how can you celebrate Halloween sober when you’re being haunted by your past?
Celebrating This Year’s Halloween Sober
One of the best ways to avoid triggers this Halloween is to celebrate the holidays in an environment wherein you can be most comfortable and most in control of your surroundings. This is none other than your house.
When you’re a newly recovering addict, it’s best to celebrate your first Halloween sober right at home. This will allow you to throw a sober Halloween party, and you can invite only the friends and family who can best support you as you navigate this new stage in your life.
Furthermore, you must keep in mind that you don’t need a drink or drugs in order to enjoy Halloween, or any holiday. You can plan activities such as the following:
- Scary movie nights
- Carving and painting pumpkins
- Decorating your house
- Baking and decorating treats
- Cooking and preparing Halloween-themed dishes
- Playing Halloween-themed games
What if You’re Going Out for a Halloween Celebration?
Let’s face it. There are instances that you may be going out and encountering people, places, or situations that may trigger your cravings. However, that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. You can’t go to the opposite spectrum, either. You can’t be riddled with anxiety with your situation and forget enjoying the holidays altogether.
The following steps can help you better prepare:
- Attend a sober Halloween event virtually, or if safety precautions permit, if there are events close to you
- Choose events where you know nobody would be drinking or doing drugs
- Be firm about your commitment and don’t hesitate to draw boundaries
- Give yourself a curfew
- Have a supportive friend, family member, or sobriety sponsor to come with you
- Have an exit strategy in place if you ever encounter triggers
At Bridges of Hope, we’re here to help you take that first step towards a sober life. However, our support doesn’t end there. Once you complete our program, we’re committed to helping you navigate a sober life—for life.
If you’re seeking help for yourself or your loved one, talk to us today: 09175098826.
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