As we enjoy the winter holidays, the good experiences we have with family and friends contribute to our sense of wellbeing and purpose. This can be especially powerful for people who are in recovery from a mental illness or a substance use disorder. For people in recovery –just like all of us—a good holiday strategy can help to anticipate potential snags and ensure everyone gets the most out of time spent together. As a practicing psychiatrist, I routinely check in with my patients regarding their holiday plans and expectations. The examples below demonstrate successful plans.
This holiday season, “John” has been invited to dinner with his family for the first time in two years. Although home can represent stability and happiness for someone in recovery, it can also be a source of stress. “John” has a strategy for the family visit: identifying a brother he trusts so that if his thinking becomes paranoid due to his mental illness, he can talk with his brother in a quiet place. He plans to be at the family event a set amount of time and his brother knows he can call the group home “John” lives in if “John” needs to leave earlier. The family has agreed not to serve alcohol to support “John” in his recovery. With this plan, his short holiday visit can begin to repair important relationships that can contribute to his successful recovery.
Not all potential problems are as obvious. Other dangers could be hidden in a medicine cabinet. “Sally” is in early recovery from a heroin problem. What started out with medication for pain management after a soccer injury in college had evolved into heroin use. After having a close call with an overdose, Sally is now rehabilitation treatment. She will soon be visiting her family for the first time in three years.
Sally will be staying with her grandmother, who does not always properly dispose her unused medications. This is a problem because Sally has taken her grandmothers pain pills in the past without anyone noticing. To avoid the temptation to take her grandmother’s medications, Sally has asked her mother to remove any pills in grandmother’s cabinet ahead of her stay. Her mother may not have known that 53% of opioids that are misused come from a friend or relative, but she agreed to remove them from Sally’s access.
Many of us spend a great deal of time preparing our homes to be bright and festive for the holidays. It’s important to know that for loved ones who are in recovery, a little extra preparation can make for an experience that supports their recovery and brings families closer together. If you have a loved one in recovery, this might be the right time to reach out and offer your support, your understanding, and a place at the table this year.
For strategies to support a loved one in recovery, visit www.recoverymonth.gov.