(KNSI) – Large family and work gatherings during the holiday season can create anxiety for those in recovery.
Addiction and Family Medicine Physician Heather Bell says a lot of the nervousness is separate from the temptation of alcohol or other substances.
“This might be a lot of family that they’ve hurt in the past or that they’ve not seen in a long time or people that maybe don’t trust them, and so there’s all of that.”
Physician Kurt DeVine says honesty is usually the best policy. He says when you are far enough along in the process to risk going to a gathering where alcohol or other substances will be present, tell people about the steps you’re taking personally to make a change. You will often find others in the same situation.
“It’s a common issue. I mean alcohol use disorder is very common and so it’s pretty unlikely if you have a party with 50 people that there aren’t a couple, two or three, people in recovery there from alcohol. So, they have to just support each other.”
DeVine says you can band together for help, or he recommends bringing along a wingman, someone you can lean on if things become difficult.
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