St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration. It signifies the harsh winter has passed and spring is right around the corner. It provides people the opportunity to gather with their family and friends to celebrate a rich cultural tradition and longstanding custom.
While everyone is welcomed as Irish on this holiday, the correlation with celebration and drinking alcohol has become synonymous over the years. For many, this opportunity to consume alcohol is just another part of the celebration. But for a recovering alcoholic, the temptation associated with an entire day of drinking alcohol can prove to be too much to handle.
Taking the time to better understand the needs of your loved one on days like St. Patrick’s Day allows you to provide emotional support, as well as, enables you to help them avoid a potential relapse that could impact their entire recovery process.
Is It Possible to Avoid Drinking on St. Patrick’s Day?
Avoiding alcohol is difficult for a recovering addict on a normal day. On a day like St. Patrick’s Day, where kegs, eggs and green beer is available everywhere, avoiding alcohol may seem like an impossible task.
After all, everywhere you turn on a holiday like St. Patty’s, you see people finding every reason under the sun to drink large quantities of pretty much any alcohol they can get their hands on.
But even with all this alcohol-induced celebration and temptation, your loved one can avoid drinking with a proper plan and support from their friends and loved ones.
How to Avoid Alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day
Working with your loved one to construct a plan to avoid drinking on St. Patrick’s Day is key to avoiding people and places that can trigger a relapse. It allows you to control the environment to ensure that your loved one stays away from addictive triggers and empowers them to enjoy the holiday with a sober state of mind.
The following recommendations provide a guide you can implement when planning a holiday centered around helping your loved one avoid alcohol:
- Bring Your Own Beverages
If you’re planning to attend private parties, make sure to bring your own beverages. There’s no guarantee that the host will be offering anything other than alcohol, so having your own drink options allows your loved one to safely sip while interacting with other partygoers. - Embrace the Other Elements of the Holiday
While St. Patrick’s Day is known for its alcohol offerings, the food associated with the holiday can be very tasty. That corn beef and cabbage is so much more satisfying when you are sober enough to savor the flavor. - Don’t Be Afraid to Own Your Sobriety
No one wants to walk into a get together and announce they are a recovering addict. But hiding it from the world is no way to live, either. Instead, encourage your loved one to discuss their health and happiness if anyone gets pushy about offering them a drink. After all, being clean and sober is something to be proud of, so encourage your loved one to brag about it if anyone asks or tries to pressure them to drink. - If You Can’t Find a Good Party, Host Your Own
Enjoying St. Patrick’s Day can sometimes be easier when you do it from the comfort of your own home. Talk to your loved one and see if they are interested in hosting a get-together that highlights the other amazing elements of the holiday. Keeping the party at your place ensures only supportive people attend and enables your loved one to control the environment throughout the day.
These ideas and options allow your loved one to embrace the holiday without having to deal with constant relapse triggers the entire time. However you decide to approach it, making a plan and sticking to it ensures your loved one has alternative ways to enjoy the day without having to sacrifice precious time with family and friends.
Get Your Loved One Addiction Treatment to Get Sober or Bounce Back After a Relapse
It’s important to remember that even with the best made plan, experiencing an isolated relapse is always a possibility. This is not uncommon at all, but it does need to be addressed in order to avoid a momentary setback becoming a full-blown unraveling.
Being prepared for every outcome allows you to support your loved one both in their success and in their failures. By establishing that level of consistent communication, you can help them identify if their problem is manageable or requires professional intervention.
At the end of the day, being able to help your loved one achieve their best life is the primary goal and, sometimes, that requires clinical guidance to overcome short-lived setbacks.
Holistic Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Ranch Creek Recovery
Always remind your loved one of how strong they are and how far they’ve come. Should your loved one end up in a situation where alcohol has crept back into their life, they need to get back on track as soon as possible – and we’re here for them.
At Ranch Creek Recovery, we address addiction recovery and relapse prevention head on through our
non-12-step, individualized, holistic addiction treatment programs. Our team of treatment experts will work one-on-one with your loved one to create a custom treatment and recovery plan that will help them feel confident and ready to re-enter their sober life.
Contact us today to learn more and get your questions answered.
