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Sober Holidays Without Breaking: Your Christmas Relapse-Proof Plan

Dr Richard Bradlow by Dr Richard Bradlow
December 23, 2025
Reading Time: 25 mins read
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Staying Sober Amid Holiday Alcohol Temptations Asv

Many people in recovery dread Christmas for good reason – it’s not just another day on the calendar. The holiday season throws alcohol in your face at every turn… office parties, family dinners, even grocery stores, with wine displays stacked by the entrance. And it’s not just the booze itself that makes things hard. Christmas stirs up old memories, complicated family dynamics, and this weird pressure to be joyful when you might be struggling. So how do you actually stay sober when alcohol is literally everywhere? The answer isn’t willpower alone – it’s planning, setting boundaries, and knowing your exit strategy before you need it.

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Key Takeaways:

  • Christmas is a predictable waypoint in recovery – you can see it coming from miles away, which means you have time to plan instead of relying on willpower alone. Treat it like what it is: a high-risk situation that deserves your full attention and strategic thinking.
  • Honest communication and boundaries aren’t optional – whether that means asking family to keep gatherings alcohol-free, creating a clear exit plan, or simply being upfront about what you need to stay safe. Your sobriety isn’t negotiable, and the people who love you should understand that.
  • Support systems exist even on Christmas Day – meetings happen on holidays, sponsors are available, and recovery communities show up when it matters most. You don’t have to white-knuckle through alone just because it’s December 25th.
  • Professional help is a legitimate option during high-risk periods. If you’re feeling especially vulnerable, there’s no shame in reaching out to doctors, arranging clinical support, or even considering a short relapse-prevention admission and taking your recovery that seriously is a strength, not a weakness.
  • Waking up sober on December 26th is a massive win – not just “getting through” Christmas, but protecting what you’ve built and proving to yourself that your recovery can handle the hard stuff. That’s something worth celebrating all on its own.

What’s the Deal with Holiday Triggers?

Triggers during the holidays aren’t just about seeing someone pour a glass of wine or walking past the drinks table at a party. They’re way more complex than that. Your brain has spent years – maybe decades – associating certain sights, smells, people, and emotions with drinking. Christmas activates all of those associations at once. The scent of mulled wine simmering on the stove, the sound of champagne corks popping at midnight, even the specific way your uncle laughs after his third beer… these aren’t just background details. They’re neurological tripwires that can send your brain into autopilot mode before you’ve even consciously registered what’s happening.

What makes Christmas triggers particularly sneaky is that they’re wrapped up in tradition and nostalgia. You’re not just fighting the urge to drink – you’re fighting against years of conditioning that tells you this is “how Christmas is supposed to feel.” And when everyone around you is participating in that tradition while you’re sitting there with your sparkling water, it can feel like you’re on the outside looking in. That sense of being different, of missing out, of not quite belonging? That’s a trigger too. One that hits harder than you might expect.

Why Christmas Can Be a Real Challenge

The statistics around relapse during the holiday season are honestly pretty sobering (no pun intended). Studies show that relapse rates can spike by up to 40% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, with Christmas sitting right in the middle of that danger zone. Part of this is simple exposure – alcohol is literally everywhere during the holidays. But there’s also something deeper going on. Christmas compresses all your emotional vulnerabilities into a concentrated period where you’re expected to be joyful, grateful, and present… even when you might be struggling with grief, loneliness, or the weight of family dysfunction.

Your family dynamics don’t magically improve just because there’s tinsel involved. In fact, they often get worse. You’re stuck in close quarters with people who might not understand your recovery, who might pressure you to “just have one,” or who trigger painful memories from your past. Maybe it’s the aunt who still treats you like you’re 12 years old, or the sibling who brings up every mistake you made during your drinking days. Add in the financial stress of gift-giving, the exhaustion of social obligations, and the general chaos of the season, and you’ve got a perfect storm of relapse risk. It’s not that you’re weak – it’s that Christmas is genuinely challenging for anyone in recovery.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Christmas

The emotional intensity of Christmas can catch you completely off guard, even if you think you’re prepared. One minute you’re feeling genuinely happy watching kids open presents, and the next you’re hit with a wave of grief about Christmases you lost to drinking. Or maybe you’re doing fine until someone makes an offhand comment that sends you spiralling into shame about past holidays you ruined. These emotional swings aren’t random – they’re part of how Christmas works on your psyche. The holiday forces you to confront both who you were and who you’re trying to become, often in the exact moment.

What makes this rollercoaster even harder is that you’re expected to maintain a cheerful facade through all of it. Society doesn’t permit you to feel complicated emotions at Christmas. You’re supposed to be merry and bright, not anxious and overwhelmed. So you end up dealing with your actual feelings – the loneliness, the regret, the fear of slipping up – while also performing happiness for everyone around you. That kind of emotional labour is exhausting, and exhaustion is one of the most significant relapse triggers there is. When you’re running on empty, your defences are down, and that’s precisely when old patterns start looking appealing again.

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The combination of forced cheerfulness and genuine emotional pain creates what recovery specialists call “emotional vulnerability.” This isn’t about being dramatic or oversensitive – it’s a recognised state where your ability to cope with stress is significantly reduced. During Christmas, you might find yourself crying over things that wouldn’t usually bother you, or feeling irrationally angry about minor inconveniences. These aren’t signs that you’re failing at recovery. They’re warning signals that your emotional resources are depleted and that you need to protect yourself actively. That protection might mean

Planning – Your Best Defence!

There’s a massive difference between reacting to Christmas and preparing for it. When you’re caught off guard by Uncle Mike pouring champagne at noon or your sister asking why you’re “still not drinking,” you’re already on the defensive. But when you’ve thought through these moments beforehand? You’ve got options, confidence, and a way out. That’s the power of planning – it transforms you from someone who’s just trying to survive the day into someone who’s actually in control of their recovery.

The thing about Christmas is that it’s entirely predictable. You know it’s coming. You know there’ll be alcohol. You know which family members will be tricky and which parties will feel like minefields. So why wouldn’t you use that to your advantage? Learning how to stay sober during the holidays starts with accepting that willpower alone isn’t enough – you need a real strategy. And honestly, once you’ve got a plan in place, the whole season feels less threatening and more manageable.

How to Make a Game Plan

Start by mapping out your entire holiday schedule like you’re planning a military operation. Which events are you attending? Who’ll be there? How long will you stay? What time does the drinking usually start? Write it all down – seriously, get a notebook or use your phone. For each event, ask yourself: what’s my exit strategy if things get uncomfortable? Maybe you drive yourself so you can leave whenever you want. Perhaps you arrange to meet a sober friend afterwards. Maybe you commit to staying only two hours max, no exceptions.

Your game plan should also include your support system on speed dial. Who can you text if you’re feeling shaky? Which meetings are happening on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? (Yes, they exist – recovery doesn’t take holidays off.) Some people even schedule check-in calls with their sponsor or a sober friend at specific times throughout the day… like a lifeline you can count on. The more detailed your plan, the less room there is for panic or impulsive decisions when the pressure’s on.

Setting Boundaries Like a Pro

Boundaries aren’t meant – they’re survival. And at Christmas, you’re absolutely allowed to say no to things that threaten your sobriety. That might mean telling your family you won’t be attending the annual cocktail party this year. It might mean asking your parents to keep their house alcohol-free during your visit. It might mean leaving dinner early to hit a meeting, even if Grandma thinks it’s rude. Your sobriety isn’t negotiable, and anyone who truly cares about you will understand that.

The hardest part about boundaries is actually enforcing them when people push back – and they will go back. “Just one drink won’t hurt!” “You’re being dramatic.” “But it’s Christmas!” These comments can feel like attacks, but they’re really just other people’s discomfort with your choices. You don’t owe anyone an explanation beyond “I don’t drink.” Period. End of sentence. And if someone can’t respect that? Well, that tells you everything you need to know about whether you should be spending time with them right now.

Practice your responses ahead of time so you’re not scrambling for words when Aunt Karen corners you by the punch bowl. Keep them short, firm, and non-negotiable. “No thanks, I’m good.” “I don’t drink anymore.” “My sobriety comes first.” You can say these things kindly, but you don’t need to soften them or apologise. The people who matter will get it. The people who don’t… well, they’re not your responsibility during the holidays. Your only job is staying sober, and every boundary you set is protecting that goal.

Got Sober Friends? Here’s Why They Matter

Studies show that people in recovery who maintain regular contact with sober peers are up to 50% more likely to stay sober long-term compared to those who don’t. That’s not just some feel-good statistic – it’s the difference between making it through Christmas intact and waking up on Boxing Day with regret. Your sober friends aren’t just lovely to have around during the holidays… they’re actually part of your survival kit. Because when everyone else is three drinks deep, and you’re nursing your third sparkling water, having someone who gets it – really gets it – can be the thing that keeps you grounded.

The thing about Christmas is that it amplifies everything. The loneliness feels lonelier, the family tension feels more tense, and the pressure to drink feels like it’s coming from every direction. But when you’ve got sober friends in your corner, you’re not white-knuckling your way through alone. They’re the ones who’ll answer your text at 11 pm when your uncle’s making jokes about you being “boring” now. They’re the people who won’t look at you weirdly when you leave the party early, because they’ve done the same thing. And honestly? Sometimes, just knowing you can call someone who won’t try to convince you that “one glass of champagne won’t hurt” is enough to get you through the moment.

Finding Your Support Squad

If you’re already connected to AA, NA, or another recovery program, you’ve got a head start – but don’t assume your support squad will materialise on its own. You need to reach out proactively before Christmas. That means texting people from your meetings to ask if anyone wants to meet up for coffee during the holiday week, or even organising a sober Christmas Eve hangout. Some people feel awkward about this… like they’re being needy or imposing. But here’s the reality – most people in recovery are looking for the same thing you are, and they’ll be relieved someone else made the first move.

Don’t have a recovery network yet? Start building one now, not on December 24th when you’re panicking. Online recovery communities can be a lifeline if you’re in a smaller town or don’t have local meetings nearby. Apps like Loosid or Sober Grid connect you with sober people in your area who are also navigating the holidays without alcohol. Even joining a sober Facebook group gives you somewhere to vent at 2 am when you can’t sleep and the cravings are hitting hard. The key is having multiple touchpoints – not just one friend, but a whole network of people you can lean on when things get rough.

Sober Activities to Keep You Engaged

Sitting around doing nothing is basically an invitation for cravings to show up uninvited. Your brain needs something to focus on that isn’t “everyone else is drinking, and I’m not.” That’s where sober activities come in – and no, I’m not talking about boring stuff you have to force yourself through. Think about what you actually enjoy doing. Maybe it’s organising a Christmas movie marathon with other sober friends, complete with ridiculous amounts of snacks and hot chocolate and or planning a Christmas morning hike before anyone’s even awake to start pouring mimosas. Some people do sober game nights, volunteer at shelters on Christmas Day, or even host their own alcohol-free dinner party where they’re in control of the environment.

The point isn’t to fill every single second of your schedule – it’s to have intentional plans that keep you connected to your sobriety and away from situations where you’re just… waiting and waiting for dinner to be over, waiting for people to stop drinking, waiting to leave. When you’ve got something to look forward to that doesn’t involve alcohol, Christmas stops feeling like something you have to survive and starts feeling like something you can actually participate in. And yeah, some years that might mean spending Christmas Day at a meeting followed by lunch with your sponsor instead of with family. If that’s what keeps you sober, then that’s what Christmas looks like this year.

One recovery counsellor I know organises an annual “Sober Christmas Day Open House” where anyone in recovery can drop by anytime between noon and 8 pm – no pressure, no agenda, just a safe space with food, games, and people who understand.

What to Do When Family Just Doesn’t Get It

Some families will rally around your sobriety like it’s the most critical thing in the world. Others… won’t. They’ll minimise it, question it, or flat-out ignore your boundaries because “it’s Christmas” and you’re “being dramatic.” This isn’t about whether they love you or not – it’s about the fact that many people genuinely don’t understand what recovery requires, especially when it disrupts their own drinking traditions.

The disconnect can be painful. You’re fighting for your life, and they’re asking why you can’t just have one glass of champagne for the toast. They might tell you you’re overreacting, or that you’re making the holiday “awkward” for everyone else. But here’s what you need to know: their lack of understanding doesn’t change what you need to stay sober. And your sobriety isn’t up for negotiation, no matter how uncomfortable it makes the room.

Talking to Loved Ones About Your Needs

The conversation needs to happen before you’re standing in their kitchen surrounded by wine bottles. Waiting until Christmas Eve to explain your boundaries sets you up for conflict when you’re already vulnerable. Instead, reach out a week or two ahead – a phone call works better than a text because tone matters here. You don’t need to justify your recovery or defend your choices, but you do need to be clear about what you need from them. Something like: “I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone, and I need to let you know that staying sober is my top priority right now. I’d love it if we could keep the gathering alcohol-free, but if that’s not possible, I’ll need to leave early to protect my recovery.”

Their response will tell you a lot about what you’re walking into. Some family members will surprise you with their support. Others will push back, minimise your concerns, or make it about their disappointment. That’s information you can use to adjust your plan. If they can’t or won’t accommodate your needs, that doesn’t make you the problem – it means you need a stronger exit strategy. Maybe you only stay for an hour. Perhaps you can bring a sober friend as backup. Maybe you skip it entirely this year and send a card instead. Your recovery isn’t selfish… It’s survival.

Creative Ways to Handle Holiday Gatherings

You don’t have to follow the traditional Christmas script, especially if that script includes hours trapped at a table where everyone’s getting progressively drunker. Get creative with how you show up. Offer to host breakfast instead of dinner – mornings are naturally less booze-heavy, and you control the environment. Suggest a Christmas Day walk or ice skating before the main gathering, giving you quality time with family when everyone’s still sober. Volunteer to be the designated driver for elderly relatives who need rides to church or other events – it gives you a built-in excuse to stay sober and a reason to leave when you need to.

Another approach that works surprisingly well: create a parallel tradition with your sober community. Attend a Christmas morning meeting, then host a sober brunch or dinner with friends in recovery. You still get connection and celebration, but without the constant vigilance required around alcohol. Some people do both – a brief appearance with family, then the real celebration with people who understand what you’re protecting. No rule says you have to spend the entire day in situations that threaten your sobriety just because it’s Christmas.

The key is permitting yourself to reimagine what Christmas looks like for you right now. Maybe this year, staying sober means you’re only there for present-opening, and then you leave. Perhaps it means you celebrate on a different day entirely when your family’s more sober. Maybe it means Christmas looks completely different from it ever has before – and that’s not just okay, it’s smart. You’re not ruining Christmas by protecting your recovery. You’re making sure you’ll be alive for next Christmas, and the one after that, and every single one that follows.

Meetings Are Your Secret Weapon – Seriously!

There’s something almost magical about walking into a room full of people who get it. You don’t have to explain why Christmas feels like navigating a minefield, or why your aunt’s “just one drink won’t hurt” comment makes your blood boil. Meetings during the holiday season aren’t just helpful – they’re often the difference between staying solid in your recovery and white-knuckling your way through December until something breaks. And here’s what a lot of people don’t realise until they’ve been through a few sober Christmases: meetings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often some of the most powerful ones you’ll ever attend.

The statistics back this up in a pretty compelling way. Research shows that people who attend at least one meeting per week during high-stress periods like the holidays have significantly lower relapse rates compared to those who skip meetings when things get tough. But it’s not just about showing up – it’s about creating a routine that becomes your anchor when everything else feels chaotic. When your family’s driving you nuts, when the loneliness hits hard, when you’re surrounded by champagne toasts and feeling like the odd one out… that’s when having a meeting to go to becomes your lifeline. You’ve already got it scheduled. You’ve already committed. And that commitment can literally save your sobriety.

The Power of a Sober Circle

Your sober circle isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s your protection system. These are the people who won’t judge you for leaving Christmas dinner early, who understand why you need to check in three times on December 25th, and who will drop everything to talk you through a craving at 11 PM on a holiday. Building this circle takes intention, especially before Christmas hits. You can’t wait until you’re in crisis mode to realise you don’t have anyone to call. The people who make it through the holidays with their sobriety intact? They’ve usually spent weeks beforehand strengthening these connections, exchanging phone numbers, making plans to check in, and sometimes even arranging to spend parts of Christmas together.

What makes a sober circle so powerful is the mutual accountability and genuine understanding. These aren’t people who will tell you to “just relax” or “have fun” when you’re struggling. They know precisely what you’re up against because they’ve been there – or they’re going through it right alongside you. Some of the strongest friendships in recovery are forged during the holidays, when people show up for each other in ways that family sometimes can’t or won’t. Whether it’s a group text chain that stays active all day Christmas, a commitment to attend meetings together, or just knowing you’ve got three people you can call at any hour… that network becomes your safety net when the holiday pressure builds.

Finding Support Even on Christmas Day

Christmas Day meetings exist in nearly every city, and they’re often surprisingly well-attended. AA, NA, and other recovery programs know that December 25th is a high-risk day, so meetings are scheduled to provide a place for people to go. Some meetings happen early in the morning before family obligations kick in. Others are expected in the afternoon or evening, giving you a built-in exit strategy from family gatherings that have gone on too long or gotten too uncomfortable. And the people who show up to these meetings? They’re your people. They chose recovery over everything else happening that day, just like you did.

Online meetings have entirely changed the game for holiday support. If you’re stuck somewhere without access to in-person meetings, or if you’re dealing with difficult family situations where leaving the house isn’t possible, you can still connect with your recovery community. Platforms hosting virtual AA and NA meetings run 24/7, including Christmas Day, so support is always available, no matter where you are or what time zone you’re in. Some people attend both an in-person meeting and an online meeting on Christmas – doubling up on support when they know they need it most.

Beyond scheduled meetings, many recovery communities organise sober events specifically for Christmas Day. These might be potluck gatherings, sober holiday parties, or just informal get-togethers where people in recovery can spend time together in an alcohol-free environment. Some sponsors make themselves extra available during the holidays, explicitly telling their sponsees to call anytime – even if it’s Christmas morning. The point is this: you are never as

My Take on Staying Sober During the Holidays

The difference between surviving Christmas sober and thriving through it comes down to how honest you’re willing to be with yourself. You can tell yourself you’ll be fine, that willpower alone will carry you through… or you can admit that this season is genuinely challenging and prepare accordingly. I’ve seen too many people white-knuckle their way through the holidays only to relapse on Boxing Day because they never acknowledged how much pressure they were under.

Sober Holidays

What’s worked for me – and what I’ve watched work for countless others – is treating Christmas like the waypoint it actually is. You wouldn’t hike through rough terrain without checking your map and supplies first. The same principle applies here. Your sobriety deserves that level of respect and preparation. And honestly, once you shift from “I should be able to handle this” to “I’m going to protect my recovery actively,” everything gets easier. Not easy, but easier.

Real Talk About Managing Cravings

Cravings during the holidays don’t play fair. They’ll hit you when you’re watching your uncle pour his third glass of wine, when you’re stressed about gift budgets, or when you’re feeling that weird mix of nostalgia and loneliness that only Christmas seems to bring. The thing is, cravings aren’t actually asking you to drink – they’re usually signalling something else entirely. Maybe you’re overwhelmed, perhaps you’re grieving the “normal” Christmas experience you think everyone else is having, or maybe you’re just exhausted from pretending to be “fine” all day.

What helps is having your toolkit ready before the craving shows up. This means knowing who you’ll call (and having their numbers saved where you can find them quickly), having a physical exit strategy if you need to leave a gathering, and keeping your meeting schedule visible. Some people find it helpful to set phone reminders throughout Christmas Day – little check-ins with themselves, asking “how am I actually doing right now?” Because cravings lose some of their power when you catch them early and name what’s really going on underneath.

Celebrating Small Wins

You know what nobody talks about enough? How much courage does it take to say no to a drink when everyone around you is saying yes? That moment when the champagne toast happens, and you’re holding your sparkling water – that’s nothing. That’s you choosing your life over fitting in. That’s you prioritising your future over temporary comfort. And it deserves recognition, even if you’re the only one who knows how hard that moment actually was.

Making it through Christmas morning sober is a victory. Leaving a party early to protect your recovery is a victory. Asking your family to keep the gathering alcohol-free – regardless of whether they agree – is a victory because you advocated for yourself. Every single decision you make that puts your sobriety first counts, and you don’t need to wait until you’ve got a year under your belt to celebrate that.

The recovery community understands this in a way that civilians often don’t. Waking up on December 26th without regret, without shame, without having to piece together what happened the night before – that’s the real Christmas miracle for people like us. So celebrate it. Text your sober friends. Post in your recovery group. Go to that Boxing Day meeting and share your win. Because stringing together sober days during the hardest season of the year isn’t just surviving – it’s building the foundation for the life you actually want to live.

Summing up

On the whole, staying sober during Christmas isn’t about having superhuman willpower or pretending the holiday isn’t difficult – it’s about being honest with yourself and planning like your recovery depends on it. Because it does. You’ve got options here, and none of them involve white-knuckling your way through family gatherings where everyone’s drinking or isolating yourself completely. Whether that means asking for an alcohol-free celebration, having a solid exit strategy, hitting a Christmas Day meeting, or spending the day entirely with sober friends… the key is deciding in advance how you’re going to handle it. And if you’re in early recovery or feeling particularly vulnerable? There’s absolutely no shame in getting professional support lined up or even considering a short admission to protect yourself.

Waking up sober on Christmas morning and going to bed sober that night? That’s not just surviving the holiday – that’s a genuine victory worth celebrating. Your sobriety comes first, always, and planning doesn’t mean you’re weak or that you’re ruining Christmas. It means you’re taking your recovery seriously enough to give it the protection it deserves. As you look toward New Year’s (another significant waypoint coming up fast), keep that same energy going. Plan, reach out for support, and keep putting your sobriety at the top of the list. You’ve got this.

FAQ

Q: What should I do if my family insists on having alcohol at Christmas dinner even though I’m in recovery?

A: Having that conversation with family can feel uncomfortable, but your sobriety isn’t negotiable. If they won’t make the gathering alcohol-free, you’ve got every right to set boundaries that protect your recovery. Show up for a shorter time – maybe just for gift exchange or dessert – and then head to a meeting or meet up with sober friends afterwards. Some people bring their own non-alcoholic drinks, so they’ve got something in hand, which helps with the awkwardness. And honestly? If your family can’t support your sobriety for a few hours, that tells you something important about where they fit into your recovery journey right now.

Q: I’m worried about being alone on Christmas because all my old friends still drink – what are my options?

A: You’re definitely not the only person facing this situation, and there’s actually more support available than you might think. Christmas Day meetings happen in most cities – they’re specifically there for people who need connection during the holidays. Reach out to your sponsor or recovery network before Christmas, not on the day itself, when you’re already struggling. Many recovery communities organise sober Christmas gatherings or volunteer opportunities where you can spend time with people who understand what you’re going through. Some treatment centres even offer drop-in support on holidays. The key is planning… waiting until Christmas morning when you’re feeling isolated makes everything ten times harder.

Q: How do I handle Christmas when the holiday itself triggers painful memories or trauma?

A: Christmas carries a lot of emotional weight, and for some people, that weight is connected to challenging experiences. The worst thing you can do is pretend those triggers don’t exist or try to white-knuckle your way through. Talk to your therapist or counsellor before the holiday – maybe schedule an extra session right before or right after Christmas. Let your support network know you’re struggling, because isolation makes everything worse. Some people find it helpful to create entirely new Christmas traditions that aren’t connected to their past – volunteering at a shelter, going to the movies, taking a nature hike. No rule says you have to celebrate Christmas the way everyone else does. Your recovery comes first, period.

Q: Is it dramatic to consider a short treatment stay to get through the Christmas period?

A: Not even a little bit dramatic. If you’re genuinely concerned about your ability to stay sober through Christmas – especially if you’re in early recovery or you’ve relapsed during past holidays – then taking that seriously is precisely the right move. A short relapse-prevention admission isn’t a failure; it’s thoughtful planning. Think about it this way: would you rather spend a few days in a supportive clinical environment, or risk throwing away months or years of sobriety because you didn’t want to seem “overdramatic”? Recovery professionals see increased admissions around holidays for good reason. People who recognise their vulnerability and act on it are the ones who make it through. That’s strength, not weakness.

Q: My family keeps saying I’m “ruining Christmas” by not drinking – how do I deal with that guilt?

A: That guilt is real, but it’s also completely misplaced. You’re not ruining anything by choosing to stay alive and healthy. If your family’s idea of Christmas requires everyone to drink, that’s their problem, not yours. Sometimes families push back against sobriety because your recovery forces them to examine their own relationship with alcohol – and they don’t like what they see. Other times, they genuinely don’t understand how serious addiction is. Either way, you can’t sacrifice your sobriety to make other people comfortable. Set your boundaries clearly and calmly, but don’t negotiate on them. The people who genuinely love you will adjust. The ones who won’t… well, you might need some distance from them while you get stronger in your recovery. Christmas happens every year – you can rebuild those relationships when you’re on more solid ground.

Tags: AlcoholChristmasSobriety
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Dr Richard Bradlow

Dr Richard Bradlow

Dr. Richard Bradlow is a psychiatrist specialising in addiction and neuropsychiatry. He works across private practice, public health, and academia, and lectures at Monash University. He also hosts the MedHeads YouTube channel and the weekly podcast Substance Stories, where he explores mental health, addiction, and recovery. Richard is committed to holistic, collaborative care focused on long-term mental health and recovery.   Qualifications: MBBS (Hons), MMed (Psych), MSc (Addiction Studies), FRANZCP

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Comments 2

  1. Lisa Smith says:
    3 weeks ago

    Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!

    Reply
    • Tony Laughton says:
      3 weeks ago

      Thanks Lisa 🙂

      Reply

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