Alcohol Addiction: Keep Your Loved One On Track During The Holidays

If your loved one is currently undergoing drug addiction treatment for an alcohol problem, minimizing stress in their lives is essential, especially during the holidays. Although many people don't consider alcohol a drug, it's one of the most abused and used substances in the United States. Alcohol addiction has the potential to lead to or accompany other addictive vices, including prescription drugs, marijuana, and heroin. Here's more information about stress and addiction and what you can do to help your loved one stay on track to their recovery.

How Does Stress Affect Your Loved One and Why?

Although you may have every right to feel concerned about your loved one's fight against addiction, you shouldn't allow it to interfere with the holiday festivities. Your friend or family member's success may depend on a number of things, including being in a happy and stress-free environment. Stress can keep your loved one from recovering from their addiction.

You should understand that stress may be the reason for your loved one's addiction in the first place. Stress can make some people feel helpless, worried and anxious when they face situations they can't control. For instance, if your loved one works in a highly stressful job that requires them to manage multiple employees, your loved one may turn to alcohol to cope with their responsibilities.

Other people drink as a way to overcome things that depress and disappoint them. For instance, if your loved one lost a spouse to divorce, they may drink to numb the pain they feel about the resolution of their relationship. Your family member or friend may know that alcohol isn't the answer to their problems, but they can no longer control their addiction.

Keeping your loved one's stress levels down can help make the holidays fun for everyone.

How Do You Keep Stress to a Minimum?

You can keep stress to a minimum during the holidays by baking delicious desserts with your loved one. If your family member or friend has a creative side they haven't used in awhile, baking may help them reconnect with it. Don't be afraid to allow your loved one to create their own dishes and baked goods. As long as the items don't expose your family member or friend to alcoholic ingredients, the tasks may allow them to relax and feel more comfortable about their recovery.

You can also ask your loved one to help you decorate different parts of the home, such as placing lights on the walkway or setting up yard fixtures. These types of activities help your loved one focus on having fun with their family instead of drinking wine, beer, or spirits. Always avoid holiday decorations that feature anything that could possibly remind your loved one about drinking, including pictures of wine or toasting glasses.

You may want to prohibit alcohol during your dinners and parties. A number of recovering addicts relapse when you expose them to their vices. If possible, ask guests and other family members to bring nonalcoholic beverages, desserts, potluck dishes, and other items to your home. Unless other people already know about your loved one's addiction to alcohol, you shouldn't reveal this personal information to anyone without your loved one's consent. You don't want your loved one to lose trust in you.

Finally, be sure to keep your loved one's addiction recovery counselor's contact number available. If your family member or friend relapses or becomes stressed, you may want to call the counselor for help. Sometimes, counselors can calm their clients when they become overwhelmed during treatment.

For more information about drug addiction treatment for alcoholism, contact a counselor at a clinic like Evergreen Recovery Centers.

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