Bringing Families Together, One Holiday at a Time

December 14, 2015 by WestBridge

Which holiday, or holidays, will you celebrate this season? Does your family have favorite traditions for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Do you do something special on Christmas Eve? What about Hanukkah and Kwanza? Does New Year’s carry any particular importance?

Different people and different cultures place varying emphases on these days—highlighting some, relegating others to the backburner. Yet for as diverse as these festive days are, there is a common thread that runs through them—and that is family.

For some, that is a comfort—but for those in recovery, it can be a mixed blessing, to say the least. Clinging to family during the holiday season can offer support, but it can also bring about intense stress. The key is to be intentional about spending time with your family, but also ensuring that you are always putting your recovery above everything else.

Some tips for doing so include:

Be aware that you may have to renegotiate your roles as sibling/sibling, child/parent, or patient/caregiver and need to be ready to communicate your needs, struggles and sources of stress.
Provide immediate feedback—gentle but clear—to help reinforce healthy behaviors within your family.
Have a game plan; know in advance roughly what activities you will be doing during the holidays, and with who. Have an exit plan, in case the stress becomes overwhelming.
Be aware of activities—including holiday films, music, etc.—that can bring back painful memories, and do not be afraid to just stay away from them as best you can.
Remember that recovery is a process, and that there is no silver bullet. You will experience ups and downs during your family time, and that’s normal.

Again, the significant thing is to be intentional in enjoying your family—but also in doing so in a way that puts your health first.

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