By Carrie Carlton
West Palm Beach, FL — Every year, we romanticize the holidays as a time of joy, generosity, and togetherness. But for millions of Americans living in recovery, the season is anything but simple. It’s a stretch of weeks filled with emotional minefields—family conflict, financial pressure, travel stress, and the ever-present cultural push toward excess.
Those who haven’t experienced addiction often underestimate how difficult this season can be. Holiday movies and marketing encourage us to imagine fireplaces, laughter, and full glasses of wine. But for people fighting to maintain their sobriety, those full glasses can feel like flashing warning signs.
We need to talk more openly about what the holidays demand of people in recovery—and, more importantly, what our communities can do to support them.
The Hidden Triggers We Ignore
We love to cast the holidays as universally cheerful. But the truth is more complicated. Family gatherings can force people back into old dynamics. Old wounds resurface. Estranged relatives suddenly show up. Many celebrations are built around alcohol, and some families still believe “just one drink” is harmless.
Add financial strain, overspending, and the pressure to host or travel, and you have a perfect storm. These aren’t small inconveniences. They are relapse risks.
Pretending otherwise is irresponsible.
The Work of Staying Sober Doesn’t Take Holidays Off
Recovery isn’t seasonal. It doesn’t pause for Thanksgiving dinner or New Year’s Eve. People in recovery often have to plan every detail around staying safe:
- Finding local AA or NA meetings while traveling
- Sticking to a spending budget
- Staying honest with family about boundaries
- Continuing therapy
- Starting new, substance-free traditions
These aren’t “tips”—they’re survival strategies. And if relapse does happen, seeking immediate help is not failure. It’s courage.
Families Can Make or Break Holiday Safety
Loved ones sometimes forget they play a critical role. Support doesn’t require grand gestures. It requires respect:
- Don’t pressure people to attend or stay at events.
- Don’t make alcohol the centerpiece of every celebration.
- Celebrate progress in recovery, even the small steps.
- And absolutely never allow anyone to drive under the influence—ever.
The holidays don’t have to be a test. But for too many people, they are.
We Can Choose to Make the Season Safer
Communities like Beachway Therapy Center in West Palm Beach are stepping up by sharing strategies and offering support, but they can’t do it alone. If we want the holidays to be truly meaningful, we need to rethink how we gather, how we celebrate, and how we care for one another.
Sobriety is not a solitary journey. And during a season that claims to be about love and connection, we should make sure our actions reflect those values.
After all, staying grounded during the holidays shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be something we help make possible for everyone.
Carrie Carlton, LCSW, QS, CCTP, Chief Clinical Officer, Beachway Therapy Center has worked with patients with trauma, mental health and substance abuse for over fifteen years.