#sober holidays

[tryingsobriety]

[tryingsobriety]

[tryingsobriety]

Sober on Thanksgiving

I know that for me, and a lot of other people in recovery, Thanksgiving is a really hard day of the year. I wanted to share some things that are helping me get through my day without causing me setbacks or relapse. It’s by no means exhaustive of what you can do to take care of yourself and I hope at least some of it is helpful for you.

1) I’m staying off social media. All it took for me this morning was to get on and see tons of posts of people stocking up on their favorite drinks to give me a craving. For me, photos are especially triggering. I know when we’re around family/friends who drink it’s a bit harder than just shutting off Insta/Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat but it’s one less thing making it harder to keep your sobriety.

2) I’m keeping active in sober communities. This is my exception to my first strategy. I don’t really have sober friends so it’s hard for me to share what I feel about this holiday. But I’m keeping up with this blog (feel free to DM or ask to give or get support!) as well as my sobriety support apps (I’m particularly partial to Sober Grid). If you’re an AA person there’s also lots of meetings/celebrations going on today you can hit up. The point is to keep myself in a space that supports and encourages my sobriety.

3) Journaling. I’m a big believer in introspection and just getting all my fucked up feelings out on a page and not letting them stew for too long. That’s when I become vulnerable to picking up. This also helps not just with cravings but with all the other shit this holiday brings up for me like feelings of isolation & self-hate. I try to journal regularly anyway, but days like this I try to be purposeful about it. One thing I’ve found to be especially helpful (thank you CBT-based outpatient) is to start every entry with a short list of how I’m feeling (just a few adjectives) and then write some about why I think I’m feeling that way. Mind dumps are wonderful too, but I like to start with something a little more structured.

4) Self-care. I’m thinking about all the little things I can do for me today to keep me sober, away from self harming, and mentally safe. For me, I’m letting myself sleep in a bit but then I’m going to make myself get up. Just staying in bed all day, despite how much I want to crawl under the covers and forget I exist, just makes me feel worse in the long run. I’m going to do a bit of exercise (it’s a cold day so staying inside and doing a short yoga video seems like my best bet). I have a lot of body issues but I’m going to remind myself that it is okay to eat today and that even though this holiday can be really hard with food/body issues eating a little too much is a hell of a lot better than drinking.

I hope something here was helpful! I know this day can suck sometimes but you’re not alone and you can make it through this day.

[tryingsobriety]

[tryingsobriety]

Days Sober: 260

I’m going to Pride later this morning. It’s actually my second Pride this year(!!!). 🌈Although there’s so much alcohol and so much temptation there, my younger self would be so excited to know that she has pride in her queer self, that she doesn’t have to deny it- especially to herself, and that she has a queer family to celebrate with! I’m prepared to face down the possibility of being exposed to lots of drinking. I don’t want to ruin this day with a relapse at all. It’s a day of self love and drinking, for me, is an act of self hate. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have this celebration of myself, family, and a community who loves and accepts me.

Happy Pride all my lovely sober queer folks!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[tryingsobriety]

[tryingsobriety]

[recohealth]

Memorial Day Sobriety Tips for RECO Health Peers

Memorial Day weekend can be a trigger for those in recovery, but preparation turns it into a milestone. The key is planning, not avoidance. Summer holidays bring unique stressors: long social gatherings, constant alcohol presence, and disrupted routines. For those with dual diagnoses or trauma histories, holiday pressure can activate anxiety or flashbacks. The tools from cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy apply here—use them to manage triggers and regulate emotions. Peer support is essential; alumni programs and sober events reduce isolation and remind you struggle is normal. A trauma-informed plan includes honoring your nervous system, setting limits on social time, and staying connected. Emotional sobriety means sitting with discomfort without reaching for escape. This Memorial Day, shift from reactive coping to proactive thriving.