Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
HALT!
Are you aware of what sets off your addictive thinking?
Knowing what your triggers are is vital to your recovery plan.
Common causes usually fall under the HALT acronym:
When you feel – Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
To assist you to deal with the triggers, spend time on self-care to ensure that you don’t fall.
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
CHOOSE WISELY!
Christmas time is social, but not all socials are good for your recovery.
You need to learn to evaluate all invitations, and then make a decision to accept or reject.
You can rank them into Low-Risk, Medium-Risk or High-Risk! Safe guard your recovery by attending only those that protect your recovery.
Saying yes to celebrating in ways and with people who are supportive of your sobriety or recovery can help you keep your peace of mind.
If you attend a party, try and go with someone who supports your recovery and have a pre-arranged ‘escape route’ if things get out of hand.
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
DON’T PUSH YOUR LIMITS!
Set limits, and then stick to them.
People are going to push you, especially over the Christmas season.
If you have firm boundaries set, you are a lot stronger and can ensure that people don’t overstep them!
KNOW how you will respond to those people who don’t value, or don’t support your recovery!
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
JUST TODAY?
Just for today…Start every day by setting your plan to avoid the triggers for today.
Create a strategy for handling a scenario in which you could experience a relapse.
FOCUS!!!
Keep your recovery at the top of your list of priorities!
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
NEW MEANING!
You might be used to using the holidays to indulge in addictive habits.
Because of this, many addictive behaviours became part of your ‘Christmas season ritual’.
Now that you are in recovery, it’s time to try something new!
START NEW TRADITIONS, SOBER ONES!
Cook meals with supportive friends and family, watching movies, taking a hike, spending time at the gym etc.
Trying something new might help you to keep stress in check over this period.
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
PRACTICE SELF-CARE!
Christmas can be a stressful and exhausting time of year.
Being stressed and tired can lead to you engaging in high-risk thoughts and behaviours.
Find a way to manage the stress, whether it is exercise, or practicing meditation, or trying to avoid the stressors etc is up to you, but FIND A WAY.
Only you can make it work!
This Christmas season, start a new, healthy hobby to prevent yourself from falling back into old habits. BE Intentional and make self-care a priority.
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
AWARE!
Are you always aware of what is happening around you?
Are you living in the here and now?
Being mindful means paying attention to what is happening now, and how I am reacting to it.
Live in the present!
Addiction will send subtle clues if you aren’t paying attention.
To protect yourself against this, you need to be more mindful about what is happening in and around you.
If you are aware, you are more able to cope with high-risk situations, and more likely to be able to respond in a healthy way that protects your recovery.
You will also be in control of your recovery, rather than being controlled by your addiction.
Practice "being" and become more present, aware, and conscious of our existence and the "doing" we do about it all.
Seasonal Survival Tips - for your recovery
CONNECT!
How connected are you to your recovery, and to your recovery support?
Having support during this time of year is vitally important.
Your support is your lifeline!
Find yourself a support group and attend meetings!
Put the meetings into your plan for the season and attend.
Connect with people who will support your recovery.
Find new ways to have fun with your support system
Above all…. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!
Tel: +27 (0)11 975 2951
WhatsApp: 0717506465
Elim Clinic, 133 Plane Road, Spartan, Kempton Park
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