Healthcare professionals recovering from alcohol or drug abuse may experience more severe symptoms during the holidays. The additional stress and holiday triggers may cause staff in recovery to experience complications and setbacks. However, there are steps professionals can take to protect their sobriety and mental health. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to reach out to supervisors if they need additional recovery support during busier times of the year, including the holidays. Taking steps to avoid triggers and receiving additional support from employers and loved ones reduces the impact of the holidays on people’s healing journey.
Why Do the Holidays Increase the Risk of Relapse for Healthcare Workers in Recovery?
The holidays sometimes come with added stress, including unrealistic expectations from friends and family. Healthcare workers have a difficult job and often work long hours. Even mild stress from work and home can combine to create an overwhelming situation. People may have fewer supports during the holidays as friends travel and work departments experience shortages. Individuals in continuing care or ongoing recovery have an added risk of experiencing more severe side effects from holiday stress.
The Importance of Avoiding Triggers
Individuals with a lower stress threshold and a history of mental health issues benefit from avoiding triggers. Situations, people, places, thoughts, or activities that might interfere with recovery should be avoided whenever possible. Healthcare workers have many resources at their disposal to help them avoid falling back on maladaptive coping mechanisms during the holidays.
Some of the most common triggers healthcare workers in recovery experience during the holidays include:
- Witnessing others celebrate with alcohol or drugs
- Sleep deprivation from busy holiday shifts
- Pressure to meet unrealistic personal or professional goals
- Memories of past holidays associated with mental health issues or substance abuse
- Additional holiday expenses causing financial strain
- Emotional strain from client care
- Feeling isolated or lonely
- Social pressure to engage in holiday activities
Identifying potential triggers allows people to take proactive steps to manage stress and maintain positive mental health during the holidays. Supportive workplace policies help healthcare professionals remain healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Health workers reported fewer mental health issues when they said they work in supportive environments.” Driftwood Recovery prioritizes employee safety and support during the holidays, ensuring individuals in recovery have the resources they need to continue healing while working.
3 Ways to Avoid Triggers and Reduce the Risk of Relapse During the Holidays
Avoiding holiday-related triggers is not always possible. However, there are steps healthcare workers can take to protect themselves from additional stress. Preparing for the holidays in advance by identifying likely triggers and creating ways of managing them reduces the risk of relapse during the holidays. Below are three ways professionals in recovery avoid or manage potential triggers.
#1. Avoid Triggers By Spending Time With Supportive Loved Ones
Supportive friends and family may help people avoid experiencing triggers during the holiday season. For example, family members can filter the news, social media, emails, or physical mail to remove any potentially triggering ads or articles.
A few other ways spending time with loved ones during the holidays reduces the risk of relapse include:
- Additional accountability and motivation to remain sober
- Friends and family ensure holiday events remain drug and alcohol-free
- Emotional support and encouragement
- Engaging in joyous activities with loved ones acts as a positive distraction from cravings or intrusive thoughts
- Positive reinforcement
Individuals with supportive loved ones who help them navigate challenges in ongoing recovery are less likely to engage in maladaptive coping behaviors.
#2. Avoid Holiday Events Featuring Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Triggers
Sober holiday events provide people in recovery with a safe space to express their joy with others while receiving support for their recovery journey. Avoiding get-togethers involving alcohol or drugs can improve overall health and reduce the risk of relapse. Many people in recovery rely on loved ones to help them confirm if they will be attending sober events. However, not all family members understand the damage triggers can cause, and they may try to sneak alcohol or drugs into holiday events. Educating loved ones ahead of the holidays to prepare them and ensure they understand the stakes can reduce the risk of someone accidentally being exposed to alcohol or drugs.
#3. Creating Strict Work-Life Boundaries
Treating individuals diagnosed with SUD or dual diagnosis may cause additional stress for some healthcare workers with active mental health disorders or a history of substance abuse. Creating strict work-life boundaries allows professionals to do their work without putting themselves in situations where they may feel pressured to take on more than they can handle. Driftwood Recovery respects each staff member’s boundaries and encourages individuals to create structured limits to separate personal time from work responsibilities.
Many individuals working in the field of addiction recovery and mental health have a personal history of substance use disorder or mental health conditions. The holidays may be a difficult time for those individuals. Often, holiday events bring back memories of past substance abuse or cause additional stress that may trigger symptoms of mental health disorders. Relapse prevention strategies are essential for avoiding setbacks in recovery. Driftwood Recovery supports staff members in recovery. Clinicians and other staff members can discuss their concerns with the management team. Everyone deserves to feel safe and supported during the holiday season. To learn more about our policies and how we help employees manage recovery, call us today at (512) 759-8330.