Holiday Tips - Avoid Uncomfortable Places

1. As I approached my first AA holiday I heard my sponsor and others speak about feelings coming up that I might not recognize.

2. They also talked about going to meetings every day during the week into and out of Thanksgiving.

3. They reminded me that there were opportunities to be with other folks who were going through the same things they and I were experiencing and that there were Alcothons that started Wednesday afternoon and evening and went to Thursday night at 8:00 PM with food available at least at lunch on Thursday if not all night.

4. I had been taught in my first 30 days of recovery that I no longer had to stay in places or with people when I felt uncomfortable or at risk. And, I realized that I had a choice of staying or leaving places and I had a safe, clean and sober place that I could go to.

5. There have been many Holidays since that first one. But, I learned then that going to meetings helped me learn, grow and cope. And "son of a gun" going to meetings also helped me stay clean and sober.

6. This Thanksgiving will be my 12th as a clean and sober member of AA who regularly attends meetings, speaks with his sponsor, works the steps and recalls where he came from and what it has taken to change.

I do not take this program for granted. I give thanks to God, the one I know as my Higher Power, the numerous gifts found in and through AA.
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How Do You Avoid Drinking During the Holidays?

The holiday season can present all kinds of temptations and triggers for those who are trying to stay clean and sober. As others celebrate the season with alcohol at parties and family gatherings in can be difficult to not give in. How do you avoid drinking during the holidays? What tips can you give to those facing their first sober New Year? 

Remembering to be grateful...

This is my first Christmas sober (I will have my first birthday on December 30th), and this past year has been the most amazing of my life. Starting a new life with my husband and step-son, becoming pregnant for the first time in my life, and getting ready for my new little girl's arrival, are just some of the things keeping me too busy to imagine drinking. I attend meetings when I can, and keep in contact with my sponsor, but mostly I just can't imagine throwing away what I now have for a short time of numbness. I "play the tape through," which always shows me a quick downward spiral. I can't help but be so grateful for the gift of sobriety.

—momincal

Applying the principles

Well here we are virtually at the end of one year and the beginning of another. At this time of the year many of us find it difficult. However if we can pause for a moment and apply AA'S tried and true priniciples, we should have few problems. We simply go one day, half a day, 2 hours, 1 hour, fifteen minutes, no matter what it [what ever the it is ] will pass - providing I do not drink.

—Guest laurie

Just do it

Ive been trying to get sober for two years and thanksgiving day was my last drunk when my sponsor told me to stop trying and just do it. So I'm going to stay sober just for today. I can always drink tomorrow! I truly want to recover, so I've planned a lot of meetings and I'm giving service time at the Alano club during our Alcholthon.

—Guest Jill

Attitude of gratitude

Prayer, meditation, readings, A.A. meetings, calling others in the program, service work, Step work and doing something nice for any of God's children. Do what is suggested of me by members of the Fellowship, and by members of my health care team. I only have today. "Live and Let Live." In Jesus' name, Amen. Your humble servant, Geoffrey

—Guest GaelicBrian5

The calm after the "holiday storm"...

For me it's not the stress leading up to the holidays (solution for me-more meetings) or even the holidays themselves (solution-limit activities where alcohol is served)...it's afterward, when everyone has returned home, the decorations are stored, life supposedly returns to normal; quiet time when you examine what did/did not happen, expectations were/were not met, another year closing, life slowing back down or screeching to a sudden stop - that's when my alcoholic mind gets whirling like a hamster on a wheel. Pessimism leads into depression and projection over non-realistic actions and consequences, "poor me, poor me, pour me a drink"! Solution for me-use the time and do for others and journal a daily gratitude list! I can't say enough about gratitude lists to totally transform your thinking over time!

—BrendaP2007

Simple

I don't drink and I don't think about not drinking. If somone asks me why I am not drinking I ask them if they would pose the same question to somebody who is no longer smoking.

—puckchaser48

Find meetings

I plan on going to a party sponsored by someone in my home group, then off New Year's morning to a breakfast/speaker meeting. My family is going to share this open meeting with me, and it will be a great way to start off the New Year. Fortunately, there are a couple of us in my family in recovery, and the support shown over this holiday way amazing. There was a lot of alcohol around, but I never once felt compelled to sneak a glass of wine, or anything like that. I stuck to my water with lemon and Diet Coke, and was very content and happy that I had my family back in my life. That made the urge to have a drink a lot easier to fight, knowing that if I did, I'd loose all that I had come to gain in my 16 months of sobriety.

—vampire1964

EZ duz it

The major advice I've been given as far as the holidays are concerned is the fact that it's just another day. Since I live one day at a time I can make no excuse to justify a drink.

—Baldazar75

A mindful thing to do

I usually step up my meetings during the holidays and find out where the gatherings are and go if I do not have plans with family. I have grandchildren and I hang out with them a lot because there is no thoughts of drinking with them as they are still so young. We usually play board games and watch Christmas movies. One thing to remember is how horrible you would feel the next day if you pick up that drink. Say the Serenity Prayer a lot too.

—Guest Donna

HALT

I find this acrostic very helpful and easy to remember. I don't allow myself to become too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. When I feel uncomfortable theese are the first things I check. I'll move on to a spot check inventory if none of them apply to me. Prayer always reveals the truth. Merry Christmas!

—Guest Sharon B.

This is what I do...

The holidays are a particularly dangerous time of the year for us. Emotions do run high and we are sensitive people by nature. One thing I make sure is that I am not alone. This year I will be working at the shelter. Past years, I would go to meetings and/or clubhouses and offer to help. Become a "part of" and you will quickly see how your presence there will help others. I have found that no matter how bad things may seem, you'll find others in worse shape. If you are going to be with family, keep in mind that alcohol may be close by. Know your boundaries and don't test yourself. You may have to excuse yourself and head a different direction. That's okay, do what you must to protect yourself from that first drink. Avoid parties. This has made me feel "different' but it's okay. I am different. I cannot drink like them. Staying sober through Jan 1st will be a great accomplishment for which you will be proud.

—Skyhawk007

Alano Clubs

To stay sober during the holidays I personally find A.A. Alano Clubs that sponsor 24 hour alcothons or 48 hour alcothons helpful.

—Guest sdingman70

Caring for others

I remember that Christmas visits/visitors may not remember what I say or what I do but they will always remember how you made them feel (wit can be cruel and demanding center stage means no one matters but me). I want to personify the spirit of Christmas: Love and care for others. Just watch the behaviors as alcohol consumption goes up: An increasing focus on self, loss of impulse control: impulse to hurt or disregard the feelings and stories of those around you. I will be creating memories of me in the hearts of my family (grandchildren in particular) and I want those memories to be precious.

—Guest Marlene

Avoiding drinking during the holidays.

Remember the HALTS don't get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. This time of year can bring out all of these. In early sobriety I attended AA meetings and functions. They are advertised at meetings in the monthly book in your state here in Qld is the Pathfinder. You can ring the CSO office or GSO Sydney to find out what's on on Christmas day or New Year's Eve or just ask someone at a meeting. If you need to attend work or family gatherings take a sober member with you even invite your sponsor. Take your own drinks and hold them close. Keep our phone in your pocket with contacts. Don't people please and stay till the end. Leave politely if you are uncomfortable they won't even know your gone if they are drinking. Enjoy the quality time with them and then excuse yourself when they start to get full. Say no if you really don't want to go. If they are your friends they will understand. Most of all you are a miracle in the making,try to enjoy the silly season as best you can.

—Guest Wendy P

Replacing the Bad Memories

I try to replace bad memories with the good, such as I have a lot of alcohol related deaths during the holiday season, and I try to turn them around to happy memorials, my family and I will sit around and talk about all the good times we were able to share with these people. I have been sober going on 3 years December 23, and I keep my focus on the reason why I wanted sobriety in the first place. That is because I wanted true happiness through being my true self, and forgiving myself and others help out as well. I also use my supports, my children are my biggest inspiration and my granddaughter, I have a lot of recovering friends that I can share experiences in recovery with. Source