Holiday Recovery Tips For People In Addiction Recovery

The holiday season creates a mix of emotions for people in recovery. Some look forward to reconnecting with family. Others feel pressure the moment December begins. Gatherings bring old habits, expectations, and social pressures that can shake a person’s balance. 

That’s why we at Liberty Home support anyone who wants to protect their progress through this period. With the right plan, December becomes a month where you stay grounded and enter January with confidence.

Anticipate Your Triggers Before They Appear

Triggers during the holidays often happen in predictable patterns. People, places, conversations, and specific times of day can pull you toward old behaviour before you notice the shift.

Identify Social Triggers

Take a moment to notice which gatherings make you feel tense, whether it is office events where alcohol flows easily, family occasions where people comment on your choices, or long dinners that stretch late into the night. When you recognise these situations in advance, it becomes much easier to meet them with clarity and make decisions that protect your recovery.

Identify Environmental and Emotional Triggers

Holiday music, certain smells, old decorations, and familiar routines can bring up memories linked with substance use. Fatigue, loneliness, and overstimulation also affect the mind. These experiences are part of why many people seek holiday recovery tips long before December begins.

Refusal Scripts That Protect Your Sobriety

Saying no can feel deeply uncomfortable, especially when people around you expect a different answer, so having a few gentle refusal scripts ready can give you words that feel kind, grounded and respectful while still protecting your needs without long explanations.

Simple Scripts You Can Use

• I am taking care of my health tonight. I am fine with this drink.
• I am driving later and want to stay clear.
• I am keeping things simple for myself this season.
• I appreciate the offer. I am good with what I have.

These refusal scripts for staying sober help you avoid unnecessary conversations. You do not owe anyone a full explanation about your recovery. A short, steady response protects your boundaries without creating tension.

3 Coping Skills You Can Use Anywhere

1. Breathing for steadiness

A slow inhale. A slower exhale. Repeat for one full minute. This resets the nervous system and lowers physical tension.

2. Grounding for clarity

Place your feet firmly on the floor. Notice the temperature, the sounds, and the texture of what you are holding. This brings your attention back to the present.

3. Calling an ally

Choose one person who understands your recovery journey, and let them know you might call if things feel overwhelming. A short conversation can interrupt a craving and reconnect you with your intentions.

Plan Your Transport Before You Arrive

A safe exit is one of the strongest strategies to avoid relapse during the holidays. People often slip when they feel trapped in a situation without alternatives.

Create a plan that includes:

• A ride share option saved on your phone
• A friend you can call for transport
• Cash set aside for a taxi
• Permission to leave early if the environment becomes difficult

If A Slip Happens, There Are Steps You Can Take

A slip can feel frightening, but what matters most is how promptly you respond to yourself in the hours that follow. Recovery grows through honesty, connection, and steady choices, not through self-punishment.

In the first 24 hours

Reach out to someone you trust and let them know what happened. Speaking openly softens the weight of shame and gives your mind a chance to settle. You deserve support in these moments, and sharing the truth with someone safe can help you regain your footing.

Within 48 hours

Connect with a professional, a sponsor, or a support group. A short conversation with someone who understands addiction can stop the slip from turning into a longer setback and can remind you that recovery continues the moment you choose it again.

Within 72 hours

Return gently to your routine. Focus on sleep, nourishment, hydration, and simple movement. These basic habits strengthen your emotional balance and help your mind become clear enough to make healthier choices.

Your 30 Day Maintenance Plan For January

Recovery often feels steadier when you have a simple plan to lean on, especially after an emotional month like December. This gentle thirty day structure is designed to help you move from the holidays into the new year with more clarity, kindness and support for yourself.

Week One

Give your environment a quiet reset. Put away or let go of objects that pull you back toward old habits, and organise your space so it feels calm and supportive. Small changes in your surroundings can make it easier to show up for the routines you want to keep.

Week Two

Turn your attention to physical balance. Focus on sleep, hydration, nourishing food and gentle movement that feels realistic for your body. Consistency in these areas sends a strong message to your nervous system that you are safe and that your wellbeing matters.

Week Three

Strengthen your emotional support network. Attend therapy sessions, join support groups or schedule check ins with people you trust. Let others stand beside you so that you do not carry everything alone, especially as life settles back into its usual pace.

Week Four

Take time to reflect and look ahead. Notice what helped you through the month, what felt difficult and what you would like to adjust. From that reflection, set a small number of clear intentions for February so that the progress you made in January continues to grow.

How Liberty Home Supports You Through The Holidays

At Liberty Home we know how hard the festive season can feel, because we have sat with people who slipped during these weeks and with others who, sometimes to their own surprise, made it through without a relapse. Our experience tells us that with honesty, preparation and support, it is entirely possible for you to move through this time and reach the new year with your recovery intact.

We want you to know that feeling anxious or vulnerable right now does not mean you are failing, it simply means you are aware of what is at stake and that awareness is already a strength. You are not walking into this season alone, and as long as you keep reaching for the tools you have, asking for help when you need it and treating yourself with patience, you have every reason to believe that you can stay safe, steady and sober.