Blog: Managing recovery over the holidays
Written by student Alfie Luck
The holiday season, often dubbed "the most wonderful time of the year," is a time for festivities, joy and celebration. However, for some it can be a struggle.
For many in the UK, Christmas is synonymous with excessive food and alcohol consumption. This can sometimes trigger cravings and emotional distress. However, with the right support and strategies, it’s possible to navigate this season successfully. Here’s how you can support people in recovery during Christmas, with insights from the Better Than Well programme at UoB.
What makes the holiday season particularly difficult is the suspension of ‘normality’; for many, it's a time to indulge, so social pressure both within and outside the home can increase. It’s common during the festivities to see an increasing number of alcohol advertisements, boozy social events and for more alcohol and food to be in the house than normal.
Additionally, with the emphasis on family, connection, and celebration, Christmas can worsen feelings of loneliness, anxiety or depression for those who don’t have these things. The holiday season can also be testing for those experiencing financial insecurity. An obligation to socialise and engage in gift-giving can cause a real strain on someone’s bank account.
It’s important to understand that addiction is primarily the responsibility of the individual who suffers. You cannot do it for them, as it is after all an inside job. However, you can assist in many ways. Below are some tips for helping someone you know who’s struggling from addiction this holiday season.
How to support someone in recovery
- Help them to form a support network. A common saying in addiction recovery goes “The opposite of addiction is connection”. It’s important that those struggling from addiction don’t become isolated. You can help someone in recovery by encouraging them to attend local recovery groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous, getting a sponsor, and by arranging to meet up with them or staying in regular contact over the phone.
- Respect their boundaries. Be conscious of the needs a person in recovery might have. If you invite them to an event, and there will be any potential triggers then you should warn them ahead of time. Also, it helps to reassure them that they are under no obligation to participate in anything they don’t feel comfortable with, or to even attend if it may compromise their recovery. Under no circumstances should you pressure them to do something they don’t wish to. Unfortunately, it’s very common for those struggling in addiction to have people insist they can “just have one”.
- Schedule sober activities. This isn’t to say you have to stop drinking yourself. However, it can be a really helpful and touching gesture to schedule activities in places away from alcohol when spending time with someone in recovery. There are a huge range of opportunities for substance free fun. I always enjoy going for a meal or coffee, to the cinema, or even just a walk in the fresh air.
- Encourage healthy habits and a routine. Over the holidays, your everyday structure can be thrown off surprisingly quickly, which can be dangerous for those struggling with addiction. You can help someone maintain their recovery by encouraging them to establish a morning and night routine. It could be really great to pick up a healthy practice or hobby together, perhaps meditation or hiking for example. This will allow you to spend time together and help establish some structure.
Better Than Well
Here at the University of Birmingham, students struggling with addiction and those in recovery may benefit from attending Better Than Well (BTW), UoB's addiction recovery service.
It provides a peer-led support system for students in recovery, helping them maintain abstinence while pursuing their studies and establishes an on-campus community of individuals in recovery.
The programme offers various forms of support, including:
- Peer Support Meetings - Regular weekly on-site meetings where students can share their experiences of addiction and support each other.
- Sober Social Activities - Events and activities that promote a sober lifestyle and help build a supportive community of people in recovery on campus.
- Academic Support - Assistance with university admissions, developing study plans, and general academic advice.
Supporting someone in recovery during Christmas requires understanding, empathy, and practical strategies. By staying connected, respecting boundaries, and encouraging healthy habits, you can help them navigate the holiday season successfully.
We’re here to support you. Visit our Time to Talk? intranet page for a full list of wellbeing services available to all students at UoB. If the holiday season is a tough time for you, remember that you're not alone. Our 'Looking after yourself during Christmas' intranet page has more advice and guidance on how to look after your mental and physical health over the holidays.