Surviving The Winter When A Loved One Has An Addiction
The most wonderful time of year doesn’t come without hardship for some families. It can often cause stress. Those festive evenings among family and friends feel amazing — until something goes wrong.
The holidays can put a lot of stress on a person. Loved ones who struggle with addiction can find themselves tempted to slip back into old habits.
For those who may not have family to lean on, they experience increased levels of isolation and depression, also making them vulnerable. With nothing to do and no family to turn to, a person may find themselves turning to alcohol or illegal substances like heroin.
Addiction doesn’t just affect the person, it affects the family unit, too. Fight those bad habits by understanding the warning signs that could occur this season.
How To Spot Potential Triggers For Relapse
Preventing relapse during what is supposed to be a joyful time of the year comes with challenges. Some of the signs include:
- Family Gatherings — The death of a loved one can make the holidays particularly challenging for someone as memories of previous holidays come flooding back.
- Drinking Socially — While it’s normal to have some kind of alcohol at the table, this temptation becomes much harder to resist. One drink could lead to a few more than anyone is prepared for.
- Stress — The holidays are a time when everyone feels stressed to make extra money to buy nice presents or maybe meet some work deadlines.
- Mood Swings — Watch for abrupt changes in behavior, like being angry, irritable, or frustrated.
- Reminiscing on Old Habits With Substances — Walking down a memory lane full of unhealthy lifestyle choices could increase the odds of relapse.
How To Help Loved Ones Survive the Holiday Blues
Helping your loved one through the holiday blues means:
- Preparing them for situations that could be uncomfortable.
- Role-playing potential conversations to ease any jitters that may arise.
- Encouraging a loved one to come earlier and leave early before substance use increases.
- Creating an exit strategy in the event that an argument may occur and they want to leave.
Find Hope For Addiction During The Holidays
If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs in a loved one, you should encourage them to seek treatment at Vertava Health. Addiction never takes a holiday, and neither do we. Our facility offers residential treatment, outpatient treatment services, and support groups.
The holidays have proven to be a dangerous time of the year. The CDC has deemed December one of the deadliest months for addiction. Studies have also shown that people drink more during the holiday season.
Eliminate the possibility of relapse by creating a substance-free zone. Show your support for a loved one by listening and understanding their triggers.
What Should I Do Next?
At Vertava Health, getting your loved one help is simple.
- Reach Out — Contact us via phone, email, live chat, or text.
- Find the Right Help — Our team listens and determines the next steps of care.
- Let’s Talk About Insurance — It’s important to understand what options are available to you. We are in-network with most major insurance providers. Alternative options are also available.
- Work Out the Details — There are several moving parts that occur before going into treatment. This is the time when you get any affairs in order, down to arranging a ride or filling out paperwork.
- Schedule Treatment and Begin Healing — We will work hard to get your loved one into treatment immediately. Healing should never be delayed.
Is Treatment Affordable?
Yes. We have treatment available with insurance and alternative payment options. Fill out our form below to verify your eligibility.
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