Avoiding Alcohol During the Holidays
Dee Cohen, LCSW
November 25, 2008
Holiday gatherings, office parties and family celebrations are common during the holidays. Alcohol is often part of these events. If you are trying to stay sober due to a drinking history or you just wish to not participate in drinking, how do you handle this?
First of all, being casual about it works the best. There will be juices or sodas as
well so there are other choices. If it's an uncomfortable situation due to family tensions or friction with co-workers, drinking is often a poor way to handle this anyway. You don't have to give any justification or history of your past problem, but just tell people (if asked) that you are in the mood for a juice beverage.
People drink often to relax, fit in or remove a self-conscious feeling. You can relax
without drinking by doing slow, even breathing and relaxing the muscles in your body. If you find crowds difficult, try to get into 1-1 conversations with people who are supportive, easy to speak with and non-intimidating. When you are faced with a group
conversation, don't feel a pressure to be boisterous or be extroverted. Just be yourself and interact when it seems appropriate.
Without alcohol, you'll have better judgement, clearer thinking and more control over your words. If there is someone there with whom you've had a long-standing tension, you can see if it's the right time to clear the air or choose to let that wait for a future interaction.
If you are invited to a situation where you know ahead of time that drinking is the main focus, think about whether this is worth skipping. It's important to not put yourself in an environment where it's easy to be tempted, if you are trying to stay sober. Don't lose your progress and slip. Some gathering are worth missing if they don't fit in with your larger self-improvement goals.
The holidays are a time for relaxation and reflection. A new year begins shortly and you want to consolidate the gains you've made and put into effect the resolutions that will further your health and spiritual values.
First of all, being casual about it works the best. There will be juices or sodas as
well so there are other choices. If it's an uncomfortable situation due to family tensions or friction with co-workers, drinking is often a poor way to handle this anyway. You don't have to give any justification or history of your past problem, but just tell people (if asked) that you are in the mood for a juice beverage.
People drink often to relax, fit in or remove a self-conscious feeling. You can relax
without drinking by doing slow, even breathing and relaxing the muscles in your body. If you find crowds difficult, try to get into 1-1 conversations with people who are supportive, easy to speak with and non-intimidating. When you are faced with a group
conversation, don't feel a pressure to be boisterous or be extroverted. Just be yourself and interact when it seems appropriate.
Without alcohol, you'll have better judgement, clearer thinking and more control over your words. If there is someone there with whom you've had a long-standing tension, you can see if it's the right time to clear the air or choose to let that wait for a future interaction.
If you are invited to a situation where you know ahead of time that drinking is the main focus, think about whether this is worth skipping. It's important to not put yourself in an environment where it's easy to be tempted, if you are trying to stay sober. Don't lose your progress and slip. Some gathering are worth missing if they don't fit in with your larger self-improvement goals.
The holidays are a time for relaxation and reflection. A new year begins shortly and you want to consolidate the gains you've made and put into effect the resolutions that will further your health and spiritual values.
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