Coping with addiction during the holiday season

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Anybody can experience stress during the holidays. However, this time of year can be particularly difficult for those who battle a substance use disorder. The holidays can make a variety of substances more available due to travel and partying.

Senior Director of Outpatient Services at the Abbe Center for Community Mental Health Theresa Graham-Mineart stated, “There are parties and get-togethers where there is often wine or a bar and so that can be a trigger for some folks.”

According to her, there are strategies for surviving the holidays without relapsing and ensuring that certain triggers don’t cause one. Planning ahead is one method. According to Graham-Mineart, one of the best ways to prevent those triggers is to find out in advance if alcohol or other drugs will be present at any party.

The most crucial thing, though, is to be kind to yourself. We are not required to attend every party. Dipping out is always OK. “We owe no one an explanation for that,” Graham-Mineart stated.

Having loved ones by your side throughout these kinds of events might have the most influence, she says.

“Consider carefully who we invite to these events,” Graham-Mineart said. Even though the celebration will last till midnight, will we also serve non-alcoholic drinks and will the bar close at ten o’clock? And are we contacting folks to ask, “Hey, I understand that you may be going through a difficult moment. How may I be of assistance to you?”