Guest Contributor:
Amy Villano, Senior Director of NJ Recovery Services
Holidays are often a time of joy, excitement, and spending time with family. However, they can also be a source of stress, exhaustion, and temptations, especially for those who want to avoid alcohol and other substances.
Holidays come with pressure to conform to particular social and familial expectations and more interactions with family and friends, many of which there is a presence of celebrating with alcohol and other substances. Additionally, loss, loneliness, and shame are powerful triggers this time of year.
According to Amy Villano, Senior Director of NJ Recovery Services, Acenda Integrated Health, “there are often unrealistic expectations that you place on yourself to keep up with certain holiday traditions, like buying gifts that may strain your budget and social interactions with an increased presence of alcohol. It is so important that you stay mindful of the need for self-care and avoid using alcohol or other substances to manage any stressful occurrences.”
Here are five tips to keep in mind:
- You Can Say NO: Sometimes we feel pressured into drinking, even when we know it isn't the time. Don't be afraid to say no to an alcoholic beverage, especially in high stress or triggering situations.
- Challenge Expectations: You don't have to be defined by your past decisions; you can be defined by the choices you make moving forward. It is okay to defy the expectation to drink or spend money, choosing a different, and better, path for yourself.
- Reinvent Tradition: Take this time as an opportunity to create new traditions, like sober gatherings or spending limits on gifts. This can reduce stress surrounding the holidays and get togethers.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Rest, eat healthy, take a walk, and use meditation or yoga, instead of coping by using alcohol or other substances. If you are in recovery, create and use your relapse prevention plan to protect your mental health. Check out Acenda's blog on Self-Care Strategies for All Ages for suggestions.
- Ask for Help: Reach out for help from your sober support network, local meetings, or a mental health professional.
If you are a loved one are struggling with alcohol or other substance use issues, Acenda’s Recovery Services can help.
Guest Contributor
Amy Villano, LPC, ACS, MBA is the Senior Director of NJ Recovery Services at Acenda Integrated Health. She has been with the agency since August 2021. She holds a master's degree in Addiction Counseling and an MBA in Healthcare Management, both from Farleigh Dickinson University. Villano previously wrote a blog titled Your Teen is Using. Now What? and co-wrote Peer Specialists in Mental Health & Substance Use Fields, both for Acenda's Mental Health Resource Center.