Most people think of St. Patrick’s Day as an excuse to drink lots of green beer and Irish whiskey. Drinking seems to be the most common way to embrace the Irish spirit and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day wildly. For a recovering alcoholic or anyone else who’s made a life decision to stay sober, this is a holiday that can bring up feelings of fear, frustration, and temptation.
Contrary to popular belief, there is more to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day than heavy drinking, especially if you want to honor the day in a true way to Irish heritage. However, if you anticipate being close to people celebrating the day by drinking, you may need to take precautions to avoid relapsing. Looking for a relapse prevention program in Baltimore? Contact us today by calling Baltimore Detox Center at [Direct] or reaching out to our team online.
How Can You Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day While Being Sober?
If you’re on the path to recovery after months or years of struggling with alcohol abuse, it may be tempting to skip celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. However, avoiding a problem doesn’t get rid of it. If you truly want to stay sober for the rest of your life, it’s worth figuring out how you can celebrate holidays like this in a sober manner.
Attend a St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Many cities celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by hosting parades. Attending a parade is an excellent way to get into the holiday spirit without drinking a drop of alcohol. You can even bring friends and family members with you — including children — so you can enjoy the holiday together.
Local laws may also prevent others from drinking near you if you’re in the streets of your city and watching the parade.
Eat and Drink Traditional Irish or Irish-themed Meals and Beverages
Food brings people together and is an excellent way to celebrate a holiday like St. Patrick’s Day. You can make reservations and spend the holiday at a restaurant or bar with friends and family, or you can try your hand at making Irish stew, spring lamb, or shepherd’s pie. Inviting family and friends over to celebrate in your home can be a safe way to celebrate, as you can control what type of beverages you serve to guests.
Listen to Irish Music or Learn an Irish Dance
Traditional Irish songs are exciting and lively — you’ll find yourself tapping your foot to the beat, if not learning an Irish dance. However, learning an Irish dance is probably easier if you know someone Irish and knows how to dance. Listening to Irish music is easier than learning Irish dance, as many streaming services build playlists to celebrate popular holidays.
If you live in an area with a large population of Irish immigrants, you may even find live performances of Irish music and dancing that you can attend with your friends and family. However, there will probably be drinks served at those events.
Spend Time With Sober Friends and Family Members
What matters most during holidays is that celebrating them brings together friends and family members. You can spend St. Patrick’s Day doing whatever activity you want without having to drink.
St. Patricks Day can be enjoyable and fun without alcohol. Good company is enough to have a good time. Other people who’ve committed to sobriety may even find a sober celebration extra enjoyable, as they — like you — have probably felt left out during holiday celebrations because they no longer drink.
What Should You Do If You’re Tempted To Abuse Alcohol During a Holiday Celebration?
If you’re finding it difficult to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day sober, you should turn to your rehab aftercare plan — or contact an addiction treatment facility and get yourself admitted into a relapse prevention program, where you can augment your rehab aftercare plan and find support and understanding among the program’s staff and other participants.
You can also do the following:
- Attend a recovery or support group meeting
- Call your sponsor or other support group members
- Spend time with sober friends or family members
- Set boundaries with friends or family members who still drink
- Execute your exit plan
Remember that you don’t have to stay anywhere if you feel uncomfortable or triggered. While it’s probably more polite to execute your exit plan — such as having a friend call you with a reason for leaving a party, for example — you can always leave without explaining yourself. The most important thing is for you to avoid relapsing.
What Can Clients Expect From a Relapse Prevention Program?
A rehab aftercare plan is also a relapse prevention plan. Most participants of addiction treatment programs will be given a customized plan before they’re discharged. Components of these plans can include membership to support groups, scheduled drug tests, continuing individual therapy sessions.
Some addiction treatment facilities may also offer relapse prevention programs that may have clients adjust their rehab aftercare plans while working with an addiction treatment specialist or sponsor. Some facilities may provide a safe and secure space for clients to manage their behaviors and thought patterns as they deal with their triggers.
Ready To Learn More About Baltimore Detox Center’s Programs?
If you’re looking for a relapse prevention program in Baltimore, contact us today. Call Baltimore Detox Center at [Direct] or reach out to our team online.
