The festive season is around the corner and characteristic of the Kenyan style, it is bound to be marked by prolonged bouts of merrymaking. Families will be reuniting, some after prolonged periods apart, while others will be proceeding on holiday. In the midst of all this, one factor that stands out is that this season is marked by increased alcohol intake.
A major challenge this time of the year is increased substance use, especially given that holidays can be exhausting and stressful which can trigger mental health challenges.
Things get even tougher for those who are recovering or struggling with an active addiction. However, it is not all gloomy as there are mechanisms through which they can cope with the environment and avoid a relapse.
A relapse happens when an individual stops upholding their goal of reducing or avoiding the use of alcohol or other drugs and falls back to their previous levels of use.
Most people recovering from drug dependence face a constantly high risk of relapse because prolonged substance use can result in some structural and functional brain alterations that persist well past the time that sobriety was first attained.
The first major strategy is for them to recognise their triggers and then try to limit them. They can be in the form of stress, the environment they are in, or certain people that they interact with.
It is also important for persons in recovery from drug dependence to take care of their basic needs first to manage their triggers effectively. While at it, they have to make sure that food, sleep and moods are well managed as they can easily lead to relapse.
Once the triggers are identified, persons in recovery should take notice of their warning signs, which include thinking patterns and seeking out unhealthy situations.
The holidays are emotionally complex for many people, including those who don’t struggle with addiction. This is because there are typically numerous family activities that bring together diverse personality types and possibly baggage from past differences and experiences.
Dealing with the family dynamics of who is mad at who or who likes who can be a headache and emotionally draining. For a person in recovery, this can be heightened, as their past behaviours when they were using could have caused conflict within the family, besides all the other potential family dynamic issues.
Persons in recovery should understand that it is okay to say NO to any circumstances that may trigger a relapse episode. By regularly saying yes to everything, one can feel resentment and further stress. But if they choose carefully which events they feel safe about, they will also avoid resentment in the other direction.
This is where a mentor can help since they have mastered the art of saying no and suppressing the feelings of resentment, and can thus help guide on what is okay and what should be avoided at all costs.
While this may sound incredulous, it is a strategy that works. A person in recovery doesn’t always need to give people an in-depth answer to why they don’t drink. If they feel comfortable enough, they can go ahead and tell people they are in recovery. Otherwise, they can say they do not drink for health reasons.
Sometimes the temptations to relapse during the holidays are overwhelming and for persons in recovery strutting the thin line between relapse during the holiday season and still wanting to have fun can be a challenge.
They are advised to get creative with how and with whom they spend their time. They can attain this by planning their holiday event free from drugs and alcohol. Inviting members of their support group over or meeting them in places where they can spend time outdoors is also helpful. This approach will ensure they are not lonely during the holidays and give persons in recovery something to look forward to.
