How to Organize a Sober Christmas Eve Dinner in Florida

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It might be challenging to get back on your feet during the hectic holiday season. If this is your loved one’s first Christmas clean, they may be feeling the extra strain. People who are married to or friends with people who are overcoming alcohol or drug addiction would appreciate your encouragement and support more than ever over the holiday season. There are a number of ways to express your support and organize a sober Christmas Eve dinner in Florida.

Organize a sober Christmas Eve dinner in Florida and support your loved ones

There are a few things you can do to make this Christmas different from previous ones, whether you’re hosting or attending an event with a loved one who’s in alcohol rehab Florida. In addition to providing alcohol-free beverages, you may take other measures to ease your loved one into this holiday season as they adjust to their newfound fragility and sobriety.

a nice Christmas Eve dinner
Christmas Eve dinner doesn’t always have to include alcoholic beverages.

Rethink some of your old holiday habits

For many, celebrating the holiday season involves the customary yearly corporate Christmas party when alcohol and other drugs are freely available to employees, or a night out on Christmas Eve spent frequenting local watering holes. However, if drugs or alcohol are present, it may be unrealistic for a person in recovery to attend these events.

Keep in mind that some rituals may be upsetting to some people because they include drugs or entail participation. Find alternatives to alcoholic beverages for any annual events that you, your friends, or your family host. Encourage your friend or family member to skip the holiday party they’ve been invited to by friends or at work since they’ll be spending time with heavy drinkers. Alternatively, you should organize a sober Christmas Eve dinner in Florida just for you and your closest family and friends.

Reduce domestic triggers as much as possible

Whether you and your loved one in an intensive outpatient program Florida are living together or they are just coming to visit for the holidays, it is good to remove as many potential triggers as possible from the household. Triggers can be either emotional or physiological. For the time being, showing your support for their rehabilitation might be as simple as removing some of the physical triggers.

In that case, you might try the following:

  • Take out anything that might be harmful. You can get rid of things like booze, cigarettes, pain relievers, and anything else that could persuade a loved one to use drugs.
  • Take away any evidence of drug use. Common household things (spoons, straws, baggies, empty pill bottles, lighters) can be triggers for those in recovery from drug misuse.
  • Do not offer to lend money. Someone in recovery may relapse if they have access to large sums of money or a lot of credit cards.
  • Think about what sets them off. Inquire of those close to you as to the causes of any negative emotions they may experience. A person in recovery may find recognizing even commonplace objects such as an old rucksack or furniture challenging.
a family having a Christams Eve dinner
It is entirely possible to organize a sober Christmas Eve dinner in Florida and still have fun.

Make sure to check up on your loved ones in recovery

Be present for your loved one in recovery this Christmas, both physically and emotionally. Take the time to observe how they’re doing in the days leading up to Christmas and on Christmas Day itself. Spend time with them by talking to them, listening to them, and asking them questions. Your loved one may be struggling to deal with specific feelings or memories because of the pressures of the holiday season, including shopping for presents, resolving family conflicts, and meeting social standards.

When checking in on a loved one who is getting well, try asking them any of the following questions.

  • How have you been doing lately, both mentally and physically?
  • Is there something you’re worrying about or troublesome?
  • Tell me how I can help you most right now.
  • Tell me how I may help you out this holiday season.
  • Your dedication to becoming better is admirable. How can I help you maintain your sobriety?
  • Asking because I’m curious if there’s anything you need. Can you tell me what you want my assistance with?

Avoid enabling behavior

Keep your loved one’s sobriety in mind at all times if you truly want to be there for them this Christmas. During the holidays, it’s simple to engage in enabling behaviors. It might be difficult to say no or to avoid doing something that could generate friction with a loved one in recovery over the holiday season. Your loved one may be unprepared to handle the holidays without substance use, especially if this is their first clean Christmas.

a woman talking to a man with a drink in her hand
Try not to be too pushy if anyone states that they don’t want a drink.

Here are some examples of enabling actions that might occur over the holidays:

  • handing them money as a holiday present,
  • ignoring your loved one’s drinking during Christmas dinner,
  • excusing their substance abuse,
  • taking over their chores,
  • presuming they won’t drink or use drugs since it’s Christmas.

Express your support this holiday season by learning about their needs

Think about the steps your loved one has taken toward healing. Do you know if they’ve gone to counseling, AA meetings, or an inpatient treatment facility? It is crucial to be aware of their current state of recuperation. Then, you may assist your loved one in learning about and putting into practice strategies to reduce the likelihood of relapse around the holidays. If they’ve previously gone through therapy, they’ll have learned some strategies to avoid falling back into old habits. Find out from them what such methods are and how you might put them to use most effectively.

Be ready to respond if your loved one experiences a relapse over the holidays

Encourage the person you care about to connect with others who can help or with a rehab center Boynton Beach. The holiday season may be a challenging time for people trying to maintain sobriety, but having a strong support system can help you and your loved one stay sober. This way, they’ll have the backing of a larger group and you won’t have to carry the entire burden of guiding them toward recovery.

To add a loved one in their search for a support system throughout addiction recovery, consider the following:

  • Urge them to see a therapist
  • Reunite them with loved ones
  • Get them involved with a peer support group
  • Get them a rehab guide
a woman handing a gift
It would be nice to gift them something that really shows you care.

Let them know that you are truly there for them and that you care. Make sure no other guests are sneaking in drinks or drugs at the event. Share these next few tips for surviving a sober Christmas with your loved one in recovery. And assure them that you’ll keep an eye on them and that you’ll have a wonderful family gathering.

What is the best insurance plan for alcohol and drug rehabilitation?

In the United States, only a small percentage of individuals with alcohol and drug abuse issues receive treatment. Multiple difficulties may impede or prevent a person from obtaining substance misuse therapy. Cost is one of the most significant barriers to therapy. Inpatient care is frequently a component of long-term drug recovery programs. However, many insurance policies cover both alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, spending on mental health and substance use disorder treatment is projected to exceed $280 billion by 2023. (SAMHSA). This is a tremendous increase in expenditures related to these issues. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has had a significant influence on these figures.

  • Tricare is a comprehensive health insurance program for active-duty service members and their families. These plans provide mental health treatment in their broad variety of medical services. However, does Tricare cover rehab? Yes, indeed. This program covers nearly 200 medical conditions.
  • Aflac is renowned for offering flexible solutions to fit the needs of a broad customer. Medication and mental health treatment programs for persons with depression and other disorders are covered. But, does Aflac cover alcohol rehab, The answer to this topic is difficult since it is dependent on the individual’s circumstances.
  • Cigna: Does Cigna cover rehab? Cigna offers both alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation services.
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield provides inexpensive, comprehensive coverage for a large number of health treatments. Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover alcohol rehab? It offers comprehensive health coverage. These include coverage for the treatment of drug addiction and depression, among other disorders.
  • Humana is yet another source of affordable and customizable individual and family health insurance. Humana covers all associated medical expenses for mental health issues. However, the question remains: Does Humana cover alcohol rehab? The answer is yes. It is an integral part of mental health care.

Tips for surviving your first sober Christmas

A lot of people who are newly sober or attempting to get clean find the holidays to be a challenging time. There are celebrations to attend, expectations from relatives to satisfy, and innumerable advertisements for alcoholic beverages to wade through. It’s easy to feel like you aren’t celebrating ‘properly’ or that you’re missing out on the group dynamic if you’re the only one in attendance who isn’t imbibing. Certainly, that’s how it appears at first.

1. Choose to abstain from alcohol for the night

Get serious. You should not wait around to see how you feel about drinking tonight. You should resolve not to drink alcohol and approach this situation with that goal in mind. The results of saying “maybe” or “I’ll decide when I get there…” are almost always negative.

2. Make an effort to think positively

Recognize that sobriety is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Feel great about your decision to go for it after you’ve made it. You’re in the midst of an incredible feat right now. Put an end to your worries about missing out or feeling like a sober failure. Alcohol is not a miracle potion. It can’t fix a terrible party and make everyone happy. Even though it may not feel like it now, your future is incredibly promising and full of happiness.

3. Think about what you’re going to say

Some people won’t even notice that you’re not drinking, but you should be ready to explain yourself if they do. The finest responses are brief ones – I’m driving / I’m weary / I’m not feeling well are all excellent answers. Give a sure response and then continue the conversation.

4.  Pretend you’re a vegetarian

Refraining from alcohol use is similar to giving up cigarettes or meat. The issue is not significant at all. Remember that this choice is ultimately yours and try to maintain some perspective. In contrast to anyone else’s. Sober Christmas celebrations are not a crime, and anyone who tells you otherwise needs to go out more.

5.  Have a drinking schedule

Drinking cold water from a plastic tumbler because no one thought to provide alternatives for those who didn’t want to imbibe is a certain way to make anyone feel awkward and out of place. It’s a good idea to bring your own alcohol-free drink with you if you’re heading to someone else’s residence. Don’t let this get out of hand.

organize a sober Christmas eve dinner in Florida for your family
Feel free to bring your own non-alcoholic drinks.

6.  Persist with what has proven successful this far

So far, what have you found to be effective? When do you feel like you’re ready to lose your way, what keeps you going? It’s easy to feel exhausted this time of year since our everyday habits go out the window. Get sober friends’ contact information and remain in touch with them. Maintaining a regular routine of self-care is essential; indulge in some much-needed selfishness and set aside normal time for the activities that help you maintain your sanity.

7. Fake it till you make it

Buy something fresh to wear, have your nails done and do your hair. If you take care of your appearance, you may boost your self-esteem. Smile and urge yourself to make an attempt. Pretend like everything is great and it just could be!

8. Have an escape plan

Going home from a party early is very acceptable. You dropped by, and you’re leaving now. That is totally okay. Especially if the host didn’t organize a sober Christmas Eve dinner in Florida and there are lots of temptations in front of you. You should make sure you have a method to get back to your house (or someone who understands that you might want to exit early). It’s important for you to have a way to sneak out for some alone time if you need it. We suggest you leave the room, stroll, or pick up the phone. In other words, do what you have to and don’t beat yourself up about it.

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