When in recovery from addiction, holidays, including Halloween, can feel tricky to navigate. If you have not experienced a sober holiday for any amount of time, it could seem uncomfortable. Halloween at the end of October could be a holiday you prepare for in advance. Ensuring your plans are in line with your recovery and sobriety is vital. It is also important you know that spending a holiday sober can be enjoyable too. There are many ways in which you can prepare yourself now in order to have a good time and a sober Halloween without putting your recovery at risk.
Ways to Have an Enjoyable Sober Halloween
Finding enjoyment in life is important and doesn’t have to end when you are sober. In the journal Emotion, it is explained in detail that happiness in life is a key component to “positive outcomes.” This idea could relate to sobriety, meaning that when people in recovery are happy, it is more likely that they will stay sober.
There is a stigma surrounding substance use that can be extremely misleading. Many people believe using substances is a way to enjoy situations like parties. Halloween is a great example of a situation where you may have individuals using substances or alcohol as a way to have a good time. It is vital to your recovery that you come to accept this is not an accurate depiction of what it means to have a good time.
Being able to enjoy a sober Halloween is a perfectly reasonable expectation to have. Some ways you may be able to enjoy this day without substance use could include ensuring you spend the day with people who are aware of your sobriety. When you surround yourself with people who understand and respect your sobriety, you are less likely to become triggered.
Unfortunately, triggers are not always completely preventable. Because of this, it is key in recovery that you know what you have the capability of controlling and ways you can avoid more obvious trigger opportunities. Being aware of your triggers can be an important way to prevent relapses. We believe this may mean that you plan ahead and spend Halloween with other sober individuals.
Planning Ahead for a Holiday Can Be Helpful in Recovery
Because you are in recovery from addiction, accepting that life will be different is important. At Renaissance Ranch, our approach could aid in learning how to accept this. A different life does not mean a boring one. Planning ahead of time for events may just be part of your new normal; you can still have a good time.
Other ways you can plan ahead for an event could include discussing it with your therapist. Talking to your therapist about attending events could be a way for you to plan ahead and stay aware of possible triggers. Your therapist will likely be able to help you decide what events you could attend safely and what events you may want to consider avoiding for the sake of your sobriety.
When you are in recovery, trying to decide if you can be involved in situations where substances and alcohol may be present could feel overwhelming. A less stressful way to approach this situation could be by planning a sober Halloween event. At Renaissance Ranch, we know how important it is to feel a sense of brotherhood amongst the men we help. For many, remaining in touch with the other men throughout the treatment journey can be beneficial. Furthermore, planning a sober event with The Band of Brothers could be a great opportunity to continue connecting with sober individuals.
Sober Halloween Event Ideas
There are a number of fun sober Halloween events you can plan yourself or attend with others. Some ideas for a sober Halloween event could include a scary movie marathon night or going to a haunted house attraction. Many treatment centers and sober recovery groups around the United States plan sober events as well. This could be an opportunity to interact more with the community while keeping your recovery a priority.
Utah has many sober events; doing a simple Internet search for sober events in your area could be helpful. If planning an event yourself is of interest, there are many other different options. Additional sober Halloween ideas could include going to a pumpkin patch and then having a pumpkin carving contest with friends and family. You could also go to a corn maze or dress up for a costume contest. These could all be enjoyable events you can participate in. As previously mentioned, it is crucial to ensure you enjoy life when you are in recovery. We believe recovery is an opportunity to experience life in a better way. This includes having fun without giving up your sobriety.
Planning ahead for a sober Halloween could be of great value to you in your recovery. It is important that you find enjoyment in life throughout recovery. This does not mean you can’t attend holiday events. It may mean you just need to approach the situation differently than you would have before. It could be vital to your overall well-being that you stay in touch with the sober community as well. Planning or attending sober events is a great way to do so. Sobriety is a commendable choice to make. Please call Renaissance Ranch at (801) 308-8898 for more information regarding your sobriety or how we can help support you in attending a sober event.