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Why The Holidays Are the Perfect Time to Start Your Recovery Journey

holidays in drug and alcohol detox

Many people use the holidays as an excuse to avoid getting sober. Whether they want to spend the time with family or they don’t want to miss out on the celebrations, it’s typically an unpopular time to go to detox and rehab. However, the holidays are actually a great time to focus on your sobriety! 

If you’re struggling with addiction now, it might be tempting to put treatment off until another day. Regardless, here are several reasons why you should consider going to detox and rehab instead of waiting until the holiday season is over.

Alcohol is difficult to avoid during the holidays.

It’s no secret that many people spend the holidays celebrating with alcohol. In many families, alcohol is so intertwined into holiday traditions that it’s impossible to avoid. Instead of trying to quit on your own, suffering through withdrawal, and attempting to fight all the temptation through the holidays, consider enrolling in alcohol and drug detox Austin. A detox center is a sober and supportive environment where you can rest and focus on your recovery. There won’t be anyone pressuring you to drink, and you’ll have privacy and support as you go through withdrawal.

People tend to overindulge during the holiday season.

Not surprisingly, many people drink more than they usually would all throughout the holiday season. According to a recent survey of 2,000 Americans, the average American doubles their alcohol consumption between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.1

Suppose you’re already struggling with substance abuse and you typically let loose during the holidays. In that case, your condition could potentially get much worse or you could be at risk of an overdose if you don’t change your behavior. Instead of allowing things to get worse before they get better, consider the alternative of going to detox and rehab. While in treatment, you can focus on developing healthier ways of living and establishing a stable foundation for your sobriety. 

There are plenty of stressors that may make you want to drink.

Let’s face it: the holidays can be stressful. With all the extra travel, shopping, events, and family gatherings, you’re more likely to feel stressed and anxious during the holiday season. These emotions are likely to fuel your addiction, and if you’re not careful, you could end up in a worse position when the new year rolls around.

Going to detox during the holidays gives you an opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and focus on what’s really important: being around for the next holiday season. After you finish detox, a rehab program can help you learn how to manage negative emotions like anxiety, stress, and depression without relying on drugs or alcohol to get by.

The holidays can also trigger mental health issues.

Memories of past holidays can sometimes produce negative emotions and social anxiety can be a major roadblock for many people who are faced with a whole month of parties and events. In addition, being around family members may cause you to compare yourself to others or feel inadequate, triggering a depressive episode. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 American adults experience mental illness each year and 21% of American adults experienced mental illness in 2020.2 If you are one of the many individuals who suffers from mental illness, the holidays might be a trigger for you. And worsening depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues can also exacerbate substance abuse issues.

In detox, medical and clinical professionals will help you break your physical dependence on drugs and alcohol. They can also provide medication-assisted treatment and therapy for co-occurring disorders like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other common mental illnesses that often occur alongside addiction.

What are the benefits of going to detox and rehab during the holidays?

Initially, you might balk at the idea of going to detox and rehab over the holidays. Isn’t the holiday season a time to spend with family? Can’t it just wait until the new year? How much worse could it really get in another month?

If you find yourself asking these questions, it’s important to take a step back and consider your motivation for not going. Maybe you haven’t yet fully admitted that you have a substance abuse problem. Or perhaps you’re scared to go to treatment because you’re not sure what it will be like. Whatever your reasoning, know that there are many reasons why going to detox and rehab over the holidays is an excellent decision.

  • Detox is a safe space where you can focus on your recovery. While you’re in detox, you’ll be away from distractions, temptation, and toxic family members and friends who may not be supportive of your recovery.
  • You can start the new year as a new person with new opportunities. The start of a new year is an opportunity to better yourself. Why go into the new year struggling with alcohol and drug abuse like you did this year? Instead, you have the chance to create a new life for yourself that’s better than ever.
  • There will never be a perfect time to quit. When it comes down to it, there’s never a perfect time to get sober. There will always be things you’d rather do, reasons why you don’t want to detox, and distractions that keep you trapped in your addiction. If you’re serious about changing your life and overcoming your addiction, the best time to do it is now.

Drug detox Austin Texas

If you need drug detox Austin Texas, Briarwood Detox Center is here for you. Our individualized drug and alcohol detox Austin provides medication-assisted treatment to ensure that detox is as safe, comfortable, and effective as possible. During detox, our medical staff will monitor your health 24/7 and provide one-on-one counseling to help you work through the psychological symptoms of withdrawal too. When you’re ready, we also offer group counseling, art and music activities, and H&I meetings to enhance your recovery journey and help you get moving in the right direction as you prepare for ongoing treatment.

At Briarwood Detox Center, our drug and alcohol detox facilities in Austin and Houston are open all throughout the holiday season to provide a safe and supportive space where individuals struggling with addiction can get sober and focus on their sobriety. If you’re interested in learning more about our programs, accepted insurance providers, or you want to enroll today, please contact us online or call (512) 262-4426 to get started.

References:

  1. https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2018/12/19/Americans-double-their-drinking-during-the-holidays-dampen-work-productivity 
  2. https://www.nami.org/mhstats 

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