Thanksgiving Day 2022 is a time of togetherness and warm family gatherings. But, unfortunately, it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year as we try to get our families and friends together without being too bitter or judgmental as we celebrate a sober Thanksgiving.
For Thanksgiving Day 2022, let’s alleviate some stress and respect those around us who are struggling with alcoholism or addiction. Enjoy a sober Thanksgiving and support your loved ones on their journey of healing. So what are some tips for making your Thanksgiving sober? Here are five simple Thanksgiving Day 2022 things you can do to make Thanksgiving 2022 safe and fun for those who struggle with alcoholism and addiction.
Reach out for help to enjoy a Sober Thanksgiving.
Please feel free to ask for assistance if you need to discuss Thanksgiving 2022 and how to have a sober Thanksgiving. You can call a friend or a family member, but don’t be afraid to make a call to a non-judgemental person or professional. If your sponsor hasn’t heard from you in a while, give them a call and find out how they are doing. If all else fails and no one else can help with this problem, it might be time for an intervention!
You could visit www.aa-meetings.com, where you can find an AA meeting near you. Find a safe space for yourself in AA meetings. Having a place where you feel comfortable when trying to find a sober Thanksgiving is essential. This could be at home, where you can attend an AA meeting online if you cannot leave the house.
While you’re preparing your Thanksgiving Day 2022 meal, be prepared to deal with your emotions. You might feel overwhelmed by the noise and chaos of the Thanksgiving 2022 holiday. It is possible that you may get angry or sad when confronted by memories of those who are no longer there as you celebrate a sober Thanksgiving. It can all feel overwhelming—but there are people to listen and help at AA meetings.
If you find yourself upset over something small (like seeing a mean relative), take a deep breath and remind yourself that this person is likely recovering from alcohol, addiction, or something in their life causing pain and challenges. They may not have been acting out of malice before they got sober but rather because they were under stress at work or in their personal life; being around people who make them uncomfortable will bring up some painful memories for them too!
It is important to remember that everyone has struggles, and pain is pain despite the cause. If we try to be more compassionate this Thanksgiving 2022 towards others’ struggles instead of judging them harshly, a Happy Thanksgiving Day 2022 could happen. It’s possible to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate a sober Thanksgiving.
Be willing to step out of your comfort zone this Thanksgiving, 2022
It’s easy to get stuck in your head during Thanksgiving 2022, but there are ways to make it a sober thanksgiving.
- Set a goal for yourself for Thanksgiving Day 2022: The key to experiencing a sober Thanksgiving is not forcing yourself into situations you know will make it hard for you to stay on track.
- Instead of just saying hi when someone walks into the room, ask them how they’re doing! This will help break up some awkwardness around silence during meals by getting people talking about things other than food!
Have a plan of action for avoiding a relapse during Thanksgiving 2022.
If you’re going to be at a family dinner and are tempted to slip off the wagon, here’s what you can do:
- Have a plan for when you are triggered. If someone says something that reminds you of how much alcohol used to make things better, or if your friends are talking about their recent Thanksgiving trip and start complaining about how much they drank, it might be time to get out of there before the turkey hits everyone’s stomachs.
- Have a plan for when you are tempted by alcohol again. Maybe some family members have brought home some wine from their recent vacation, and everyone will be drinking it during dinner (and maybe even afterward). Maybe there will be many desserts served up at dessert time, so everyone will want more drinks after dinner ends! In this case, consider staying home and spending Thanksgiving 2022 with people who will have a sober Thanksgiving with you so as not to risk temptation during those tricky post-dinner hours—or maybe just avoiding sweets altogether!
Have fun, too.
It’s important to have fun, too. You don’t want your Thanksgiving Day 2022 to be a miserable experience—you want it to be amazing! So go ahead and throw yourself into the mix. Make sure everyone involved has as much fun as possible while together, and then try not to let yourself get too distracted when they’re gone. Sometimes you’ll feel like giving up on sobriety entirely; having a plan for Thanksgiving 2022 helps keep things in perspective and helps remind yourself why you started this whole thing in the first place.
Have a plan of action if you do Relapse during Thanksgiving 2022.
Relapse happens and is part of the process. If you do relapse, get back on the wagon. Call your sponsor or attend AA meetings. Even if you are traveling, you can find AA meetings online or in person. There are many AA locations where you can get help if your sponsor or a sober friend is unavailable or an option. Reach out!
Conclusion to 5 Tips for a Sober Thanksgiving
We hope that these sober thanksgiving tips have been helpful to you. We also know that it’s not easy to change your habits and even harder to keep them when you slip up, so we want to ensure you know what to do in those situations during the Thanksgiving 2022 holiday season. We highly recommend you visit AA meetings, where you can find more information about the AA meetings and how you can enjoy a sober Thanksgiving.