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Responding to Addiction with Compassion
Surviving the holiday season
Holidays can be extra tough for people struggling with active addiction, relapsing, or in maintaining sobriety. Addictions are coping mechanisms for stress, and stress often surrounds the holiday season.
Dysfunctional families feel an obligation to gather, and we are expected to sit and converse politely with those who are united by years of trauma and drama, and who cope much better when not in each other’s company.
Unemployment and low wages add to the inadequacy that so many feel at this time of year. Oh, and the dreaded employee “Christmas” parties, and the Secret Santa gifts (often expected to be in the $20 price range), that you really can’t afford. Never mind that most people will receive things that they will only try to re-gift.
Have compassion for those who are trying to cope with all this, in addition to struggling to stay away from using their drug of choice, a substance that may have temporarily numbed them from having to “feel all the feelings” in the past.
Those who aren’t addicted to drugs or alcohol, often take solace in a glass or two of wine. They rationalize that they need to relax due to all the stress, not realizing that the alcoholic/addict is just trying to cope with the stress, too.
