Valentine’s Day can be a challenging time for both those dealing with drug addiction and their friends and family. From heart-shaped cookies at the neighborhood coffee bar, romantic music in the grocery store or dinner specials for two marketed on the bus, it is impossible to stay clear of Valentine’s Day. It can be a reminder of the support loved ones or maintain relationships in the face of drug addiction or alcoholism. Holidays like this one can be a struggle for those in recovery. That’s why a sober Valentine’s Day requires some careful thought.
Whether it is a cheerful day celebrating love or a daunting upheaval of agonizing memories, there is no best way to celebrate (or not to celebrate) Valentine’s Day. If you completed an alcohol rehab program, you’ll be wondering how holidays like Valentine’s Day will play out in your life going forward. If you haven’t entered rehab, it’s good to reflect on your situation and move ahead with treatment.
Addiction and Relationships
Given that this holiday focuses a lot on relationships, attempt to seize the day to proclaim and reaffirm your love to those around you.
While it’s not required to get any person a card or a box of delicious chocolates, Valentine’s is a good time to get in touch with the people you appreciate and that care about you- especially those who have actually helped you with your recovery. You can do this any way you want: calling them up for a lengthy talk over the phone or giving them a huge hug in person are two easy and fantastic ways to tell somebody you care. On top of this, the most effective gift you can give to the people you love is to remain sober or go into an alcohol and drug rehab.
How Addiction Affects Relationships
Valentine’s Day is not just a good time to get in touch with individuals but also a time to look back and examine how these relationships have grown.
Remaining in a successful romantic or platonic relationship is hard enough without the tension of substance abuse. This is a great time to dedicate time to fixing relationships that were tested by alcohol abuse. Drugs or alcohol can make an individual focus only on their own personal needs. One significant step in recovery is to become aware and appreciate individuals who support and love you. You can do this by establishing common respect and love.
Don’t become discouraged if things do not improve all of a sudden, it takes a very long time to (re)develop solid and enduring relationships. Be sensible and don’t expect Hallmark moments. If you think you are ready, reconnecting with friends and family is a wonderful part of addiction recovery.
Chatting with a counselor or therapist concerning relationships can be valuable for some. These experts can offer a great deal of understanding into just how to mend broken relationships and what to do to make the time you spend with your loved ones more satisfying.
Coping with Loneliness for Those in Recovery or Addiction Treatment
During a holiday that concentrates a lot on the connections people have with each other, it is simple to feel excluded if you have been struggling to keep relationships as a result of alcohol or drug dependency. One of the most essential points to bear in mind on Valentine’s Day is that you are not alone.
Make time to get together with your friends and family on Valentine’s to stay clear of feeling lonely. Make sure you are surrounded by those who support your recovery. This is specifically important if you have recently experienced the loss of a loved one. Attempt to get together with others that cared about each other. You should be able to talk about how you are really feeling.
While reflection alone is good too, this is a vital time to look for encouragement from around you. Attempt to enjoy the wintertime with loved ones by doing something enjoyable and active outside with each other. Meet buddies for a skate in the regional rink or go tobogganing! If you are single, why rule out organizing an anti-Valentine’s Day dinner with all of your single friends?
Loving Yourself!
Most of all, the most important point to keep in mind this Valentine’s Day is to love yourself.
It’s easy to forget that this is just as crucial as revealing love to those you appreciate. Invest some time being familiar with who you are. Alcohol abuse conceals your identity and through recovery, your real personality will arise. Recovery can be an amazing time to uncover past passions and interests. Do not forget to also appreciate your physical self: working out like running is among the very best cures for feeling blue, and is wonderful for your heart, the top symbol of Valentine’s.
Valentine’s Day does not need to be just about romantic love but also love of friends, family and on yourself. Not only does Valentine’s Day mark the end of the holiday season, but also the coming of spring – a time to assess revival and re-growth. The New Year starts in January, this duration mirrors the beginning of a time of activity after the wintertime hibernation. Seize the day to review the past year, previous relationships and get ready to recover!
Have a Sober Valentine’s Day
At Coalition Recovery, all of us take a lot of action to ensure that everyone really feels loved and appreciated. As a small center, we work very closely with each other. Moreover, the lessons we discover in treatment help us establish the tools to get in touch with our strengths and weaknesses and establish worthwhile relationships with everybody here. Everybody is loved and everybody is welcomed.
Please remember these lines from the rhyme Desiderata by Max Ehrmann,
“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”
Lots of love from Coalition Recovery. As always, if you’re facing any problems at this time of the year, don’t hesitate to call us at 888.707.2873. We’re always here to help.
