Christmas is synonymous with consumerism and excess. They are synonymous with spending a lot of money and pretending that our relationships with other people are much more pleasant than they really are.
AND Christmas is also synonymous with relapses for many people who are trying to overcome an addiction (or are realizing they suffer from one).
Christmas dinners and consumption of alcohol and other drugs
Let’s review some reasons why Christmas is the “August” of addiction relapses:
1. Social and family conflicts
Christmas is a time when most people are forced to spend time with family and people they wouldn’t normally see often throughout the year. It’s all part of the tradition, and that Christmas moral imperative often creates the perfect context for clashes and fights to occur (often accelerated by alcohol).
Christmas is a very stressful time for people who do not have a good relationship with their family which ends up encouraging the consumption of alcohol and other drugs to try to deal with frustration and conflict.
2. Disinhibition and social catalyst
Many people become accustomed to using alcohol and other drugs (such as marijuana or cocaine) to help them lose their inhibitions and survive social interactions without triggering their anxiety.
This psychological dependence on drugs to enjoy social events and contact with other people ends up promoting extreme consumption (and greater risk of overdose or addiction in the long term).
3. Environment that promotes drug use and relapse
Drinking huge amounts of alcohol at Christmas is a tradition for many people. Excesses and risky behaviors are promoted at a cultural level, making many people feel obliged to continue drinking or taking other drugs, due to pure social pressure.
These coercive dynamics around extreme alcohol consumption They often occur at “company dinners” that take place in December
4. Escape route and see consumption as a reward
Human beings use alcohol and other drugs to escape reality and temporarily disconnect from their problems and worries (but alcohol does not solve any problems, it only makes them worse). Since Christmas is a time so strongly associated with happiness and family, many people compare themselves to the rest and they end up feeling more miserable because they don’t feel as happy or successful as others.
Furthermore, as the end of the year approaches, many people reflect on the rest of the year, and see extreme alcohol consumption as a “reward” for the evils and difficulties they have suffered throughout the year, as well as a way to console themselves. .
How to avoid relapses at Christmas
These tips can help you.
1. Avoid alcohol
Alcohol directly affects the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain associated with the capacity for self-control and discipline. The moment you drink alcohol and it reaches your bloodstream and brain, you will have more and more difficulty saying No to the next drink (or cocaine joint) that is offered to you.
Even if you have not had addiction problems directly related to alcohol, it is best to avoid it, because its consumption will always increase the chances that you will relapse into any other addictive behavior from the past (smoking marijuana, online gambling, compulsive online shopping, etc. ). You don’t need willpower, you just need to stop putting yourself in situations where it is difficult to maintain control.
2. Your health is worth more than any “tradition”
Social pressure to drink and take drugs is very strong in certain circles, especially during Christmas and when meeting people we haven’t seen in a long time.
Mentalize yourself by reminding yourself that Your health (physical and mental) is much more important than any Christmas tradition and that you don’t need alcohol or other drugs to enjoy your life.
Another way to deal with social pressure to drink is to openly say that we don’t need to drink. Setting boundaries publicly helps us respect our commitments to ourselves.
3. Recognize your limits and anticipate relapses
There are situations that revolve entirely around alcohol consumption (or people who are practically only left to have an excuse to drink or smoke some joints or take cocaine).
And if, The behaviors of the people around you affect you, although it is difficult for you to recognize it Therefore, if you have had addiction problems, there are environments and people from which it will be better to stay away to avoid temptations. Avoiding relapses is not a matter of willpower, it is a matter of recognizing our limits and changing our lifestyle.
Make a list of those most “dangerous” situations that are most likely to cause you to relapse, and avoid them at all costs.
4. Prepare alternative and healthy plans
Some people feel a total psychological dependence on alcohol and other drugs because they don’t know how to have fun without them. And some of those people fear that overcoming their addiction and avoiding relapse means living a boring, emotionless life.
The point is to re-build our lives around new pillars of well-being, re-discover our relationships, enjoy activities that do not revolve around drugs
Plan healthy activities that help you enjoy life without having to get high. For example, playing sports, or spending more time with people we appreciate and with whom we can enjoy without having to drink alcohol or poison ourselves.
5. Seek help
Lean on your family, your partner or your friends, and ask for help from addiction professionals Facing Christmas without having relapses into addictions is not easy, and it is important to prepare ourselves mentally.
My name is Luis Miguel Real and I am a psychologist specializing in addictions. Contact me and we will get to work on your case.
