How to stay sober this Christmas

The Christmas season is a time full of fun, festivities, giving and, in many cases, partying - yet for those in recovery or struggling with alcohol or addiction issues it can be a very precarious and challenging time.

Government figures announced last week show that deaths from alcohol are at a record high in England, with a 42 per cent increase since 2021. For many people this may come as a shock, yet I am sadly not surprised. Running a national addiction charity, I’ve seen the reality of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis on isolation and loneliness. People in deep emotional and financial pain often reach for ways to numb what is happening around them.

At this time of year, when you may have more downtime than usual, it is a good idea to plan your time well

I have been sober for 12 years and on a recovery journey for 18 years. I can see that the times we live in are getting more and more challenging. Funding for rehabilitation services have been cut and mental health services are struggling to cope with the sheer demand for their services. Those with addiction are finding it harder to get help. Services are more sporadic and when urgent intervention is needed, waiting times are too long.

Booze is all around us

Just this week, I went into a supermarket to by dog food. I was not even looking at the typical Christmas treats yet I was offered alcohol samples twice as I walked around. Even at 12 years sober, this left me feeling rather disjointed. It only takes one moment for someone in recovery to succumb to the temptations around them and take that first drink.

For me, this would lead to a downhill spiral rapidly. It may sound dramatic, but I have no idea if I would survive another drink. It really is life and death for some people. Drinking alcohol is like consuming a poison with catastrophic affects.

In the media, on television, in advertising - and even in many church settings - the message is that you need to drink to be happy, and this just isn’t the case. It’s not easy being in recovery and staying sober, but it is certainly worth it! I love waking up without a hangover, not worrying who I offended the night before. 

At this time of year, many people in recovery ‘dig deep’ knowing that alcohol is more readily available and often in your face. The week after New Year is when many people end up relapsing, as they are more vigilant over Christmas time, yet relax their focus in the weeks after.

Back when alcohol gripped my life, I knew I couldn’t do it alone, and so I reached out for help - yet there are ways that everyone can help stem the crisis of alcohol-related deaths that are currently afflicting our country.

Better together

Struggles with addiction need to be spoken about more. I once read that between 80 and 90 per cent of people have a destructive habit, compulsive behaviour or a full blown addiction that grips their life and significantly impacts their decisions and relationships. That is a lot of people - and it is not just alcohol and drugs. Many things that seem normal or good - working too much, busyness, excessive shopping, hours scrolling on social media - the list goes on.

It may sound dramatic, but I have no idea if I would survive another drink

Every individual contending with addiction will find the ways that best work for them to avoid temptation. For me, having support is essential. This may be in the form of friends and family who you can open up to, a person who is also not drinking, or who understand where you are at. Many people chose to avoid places where triggers are likely.

There are plenty of great support networks and 12-step programmes available, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. You can usually find details of local or online meetings on their websites, and I would suggest checking these as times and days can change over the festive period. They often have phone numbers for people to contact for advice and help.

Make a plan

Structure is also key. At this time of year, when normal activities change and you may have more downtime than usual, it is a good idea to plan your time well, so that there are healthy, positive things to do rather than feeling bored and in limbo.

A key thing to remember is that you certainly are not on your own if you find this time of year tough. Even those without addiction may be tempted to do things they don’t normally do, like overspend, overindulge or party too hard.

I often say that people like me, who form habits easily, can use this to our advantage. Yes, I can be much quicker to form bad habits than most, yet it also means that I can form good habits quicker too. So why not think about a new, healthy habit with which to start 2025, and make it the best new year possible…There is always a way to turn our battles into blessings!