New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day can be triggering times for individuals in recovery. However, they don’t have to be. The key is to see them as a great time to focus on all of the successes that have happened in recovery as well as for making healthy resolutions in recovery. It is a time for reflection and inspiration.
Better Understanding Addiction and Addiction Recovery
Addiction remains a serious and prevalent problem in both the U.S. and abroad. This includes people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD). Millions of people struggle with these diseases every day.
Also, it is important to remember that, yes, addiction is a disease. For far too long people have considered addiction as some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply untrue. There are biological, social, and genetic factors that can lead to addiction. It makes addiction more like chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, than a choice.
Addiction is also a “family disease.” This is because it does not just affect the individual who is struggling with addiction but also those who are close to them throughout their disease. Addiction can be like a tornado that hurts everyone in its path. However, the family can be the biggest advocates for a loved one who is struggling. But, they must know which signs and symptoms to look out for.
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
While many people have different side effects from addiction, there are many universal signs and symptoms that they share. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Putting oneself in risky situations
- Losing interest in activities and hobbies once enjoyed
- Having issues with sleep cycles, such as sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Loss of appetite
- Not being able to stop drinking and/or using once started
- Feeling overly anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
- Having feelings of depression, loneliness, and worthlessness
- Committing self-harm
- Having suicidal ideations
As one can see, these signs and symptoms can be particularly dangerous. This is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present, it is important to seek professional help sooner than later. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.
Resolutions in Recovery: Navigating the Holidays
Now, navigating the holidays in recovery can be a difficult time for both the individual struggling and the loved ones around them. However, by sticking to a recovery plan, the holidays can be a time of peace and serenity rather than struggle and anxiety.
This includes sticking to psychotherapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapy like art therapy and nature immersion therapy, and holistic healing methods like meditation and yoga.
In fact, yoga can be particularly beneficial in recovery. This includes over the holidays. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
Making Healthy Resolutions in Recovery
Now, making healthy resolutions in recovery is all about staying in the present moment, as well as maintaining a focus on the future. It helps to remind oneself of the saying, “One day at a time.”
There are some great resolutions to make, such as committing to help another individual in their recovery and maintaining a healthy relapse prevention plan. Another great resolution is to commit to going to a 12-Step meeting a day for 90 straight days. This is often called doing a “90 in 90.”
It can also be helpful to commit to reaching out to someone if they are feeling “triggered” in recovery. This can help an individual avoid a relapse. It also helps an individual build a very beneficial “sober network” that they can rely upon when times are tough (including around the holidays).
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in focusing on long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why we always make our recovery plans individualized and comprehensive.
We also ensure that our recovery plans have a focus on the future. This includes helping our clients navigate holidays in recovery by offering alumni services and outreach. New Year’s is a time for renewal. In recovery, this is truer than ever.
With New Year’s around the corner, it is important to make healthy resolutions. This is especially true for those in recovery. The key is to remember to stay present in the moment but to also have healthy and achievable goals. This is a great way to ensure that recovery is long-term and free of any relapses. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about making healthy resolutions post-treatment, reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
