Category: Addictions

Addictions

Celebrating Independence and Sobriety: Tips for a Sober Fourth of July

Blue Elephant Counseling LLC
Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels.com

🐘 Welcome to Blue Elephant Counseling, your trusted source for online mental health services in rural and frontier Nebraska! As Independence Day approaches, we understand that navigating social gatherings and celebrations while maintaining sobriety can be challenging. In this blog post, we’re here to support and provide you with practical tips to enjoy a memorable and alcohol-free Fourth of July. Let’s celebrate freedom, both personal and national, while staying committed to our sobriety journey.

  1. Plan Ahead and Set Intentions:

Choose Alcohol-Free Events: Seek out alcohol-free or family-friendly events and gatherings in your community. Look for fireworks displays, parades, picnics, or sober celebrations where you can enjoy the holiday without the presence of alcohol.

Communicate Your Sobriety: Inform close friends and family members about your commitment to sobriety. Share your intentions for an alcohol-free Fourth of July and request their support in providing a safe and supportive environment for your celebration.

  1. Create Sober Traditions and Activities:

Organize a Sober Gathering: Host a sober gathering at your home or a designated location where friends and family can enjoy games, music, and delicious non-alcoholic beverages. Encourage everyone to bring their favorite alcohol-free drinks and snacks to contribute to the festivities.

Engage in Outdoor Activities: Plan outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, or organizing a friendly sports competition. Embrace the beautiful summer weather while staying active and connected with loved ones.

  1. Stay Mindful and Practice Self-Care:

Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, to stay centered and focused. When cravings or triggers arise, take a moment to ground yourself and reconnect with your commitment to sobriety.

Take Care of Yourself: Prioritize self-care by getting enough rest, eating nourishing foods, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Engaging in self-care will help you maintain a positive mindset and strengthen your resilience.

  1. Seek Support and Stay Connected:

Attend Supportive Meetings or Groups: Consider attending a sobriety support group or a meeting during the Fourth of July holiday. Connecting with individuals who share similar experiences can provide encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of community.

Reach Out to Your Support Network: If you’re feeling vulnerable or craving support, reach out to trusted friends, family members, or a sponsor who understands your journey and can provide guidance and encouragement.

🐘 This Fourth of July, let’s celebrate the spirit of independence while embracing our personal journey of sobriety. By planning ahead, creating sober traditions, staying mindful, practicing self-care, and seeking support, we can navigate the holiday with strength and resilience. Blue Elephant Counseling is here to support you on your path to sobriety, offering online mental health services designed to meet your unique needs. Remember, your sobriety is a precious gift, and every sober celebration is a testament to your strength and commitment. Happy Independence Day!

#SoberIndependence #SobrietyTips #FourthOfJuly #BlueElephantCounseling

Addictions, Coping skills

Trigger Warning

Blue Elephant Counseling LLC

Self Harm and Other Maladaptive Coping Strategies

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Katie Donahoo

Coping skills are anything that helps you to feel clam, relaxed and brings you peace. If you read through previous posts I’ve written you will all kinds of positive, healthy strategies to help you when you are struggling. But what happens when the things you think are bringing you calm are actually hurting you? In this article you learn what maladaptive coping strategies are, how to recognize them in yourself and others, and what to do if you notice you or a loved one are using them. So lets get into it.

Maladaptive coping skills are harmful behaviors people use to cope with emotional distress. While these behaviors often provide immediate reduction in symptoms the effects are not long lasting and over time cause an increase in distress, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms. Maladaptive strategies are often learned through social influence, parental modeling, or experimentation in youth. When a person is raised in a toxic household where the adults use maladaptive coping strategies to deal with their distress it impresses upon the youth that this is how you deal with your problems. Some youth are not exposed to healthy coping alternatives and therefore rely on the maladaptive strategies to ease their burden. Others still experiment with maladaptive strategies in teen years whether from peer advice or modeling behaviors seen by friends and peers. Adults can fall into maladaptive coping patterns as well.

Maladaptive coping comes in many forms. The use of drugs and alcohol often beginning as a way to deal with stress from either daily life or a significant event. Smoking, tobacco use, vaping to manage stress is another substance use example. Self harm behaviors such as cutting, burning, or hair pulling are maladaptive coping strategies. Lesser known maladaptive strategies include gambling, emotional numbing, and social withdraw. Often, maladaptive coping goes undetected because the strategy itself is a socially acceptable behavior. Going to the bar to burn off steam after a long day at work or playing a few hands of poker with the fellas. Taking smoke breaks at work or home to get away from the hub-bub indoors. Behaviors such as pinching, pulling, or picking may even go unnoticed by the individual until commented on by a loved one.

If you are uncertain if your engagement in some of the activities listed is simply social engagement or maladaptive coping you can ask yourself the following questions:

Does engaging in this activity consume my thinking? Do you spend a lot of time thinking about when, where, or how you will be able to engage in this behavior or activity again? Is what I think about first think about in the morning? Is it on my mind most of the day? Do I spend a lot time trying to plan or acquire the things I need to engage in this behavior again? Spending large quantities of time thinking about or actively trying to engage in the behavior again is an indicator you are engaging in an unhealthy or maladaptive way.

Am I hiding it from others? Do my loved ones know I do this? Do they partake in this behavior with me or do I engage in this alone? Engaging in behaviors in secret is a sign you are utilizing the behavior in a maladaptive way.

Do I feel guilt or shame after engaging in the behavior? When we partake in behavior in a maladaptive way we often feel negative emotions about our use of the behavior. Your use of a healthy coping strategy would leaving you feeling better, confident, and proud.

Am I only engaging in this behavior when I am alone? Isolation during maladaptive coping is common. If you wouldn’t engage in the behavior in front of your support system it’s likely because you have an intuitive sense that the behavior is maladaptive in nature. If you are isolating from your supports even when not engaging in the behavior it could be because your attempts at coping are not effective.

Maladaptive coping strategies will leave you feeling worse over time because they do not deal with the root cause of your distress. In fact, maladaptive coping will increase your symptoms due to the shame, guilt, embarrassment, and other depressive or anxious symptoms perpetuated by the strategy itself. Alcohol is a depressant. If you use it to numb or decrease your stress it will likely work initially. Over time you will find yourself feeling more and more anxious and stressed as you continue to use alcohol to cope. Maladaptive coping doesn’t work long term, it doesn’t create positive change in your behavior, and doesn’t address the root cause of your distress.

If you or a loved one are engaging in any of the strategies mentioned above as ways to deal with emotional upset, stress, or known mental health issues such as anxiety or depression there is hope. Please please please reach out for help. Somebody loves you, help is available. Crisis hotlines are for all kinds of crisis. You do NOT have to be suicidal to call a crisis line. Text 988 if you are in crisis.

If you are concerned for a loved one do not wait to address the elephant in the room. Learning new strategies and changing behavior patterns can be difficult. The person may have been using their maladaptive strategies for a very long time. Confront them immediately with love and support. Let them know that you know what they are doing and you are there to help. Whether for a loved one or for yourself seek professional support to gain healthy, effective strategies as soon as possible. Healing is possible, help is available.

Crisis Text Line: 988

Crisis Hotline: 1 (800) 273-8522

Addictions

5 Steps To Prevent Relapse During The Holidays

Blue Elephant Counseling LLC

Katie Donahoo

Photo by Nicola Barts on Pexels.com

1. Acknowledge The Risk

Holidays are a time of increased expectations and stress. It is important to acknowledge the things that make this true so you can prepare to deal with them: family obligations, increased or decreased work hours, financial strain, social events, gifts, etc. It goes on and on.  Recognize the risk for relapse and acknowledge it to yourself. If you ignore the risks or refuse to see them for what they are you can be blind sided by them and fall into relapse. 

2. Make A Plan

Who: Who am I going to choose to spend my time with? Friends, family, co-workers, children, spouse, sponsor, allies? Who has my best interests in mind? Are these people in recovery or supportive of my recovery? Are they actively using? 

What: What will I be doing with my time? Celebrations, dinners, parties, other social gatherings? How will I be spending my time at these events? Talking, eating, drinking, games, watching something? 

Where: At what locations will I spend my time? Are these locations triggering for me? Have I used in these locations in the past? Are these events being hosted at a bar, club, or after-hours party house/location? 

When: What time will arrive at these events and what time will I leave these events? What are my signals that I need to leave early? How will I leave; did I drive myself or am I reliant on someone else for a ride? 

Why: Why am I choosing these events to attend? What do I get out of attending these events? Do these events support my recovery? Do I feel welcomed and comfortable at these events? 

3. Practice Saying “No”

Have a few different ‘go to’ phrases prepared for declining events, invitations, or offers that do not suit your recovery lifestyle. Practice with a friend or in the mirror. Say your phrases out loud so you get used to hearing them in your own voice. Examples include: “I’m busy that day. I already have a prior commitment. No thanks. I don’t think that event is for me. I would prefer not to attend that event. I can’t help you out this year, I’m sorry.”

4. Reach For Your Support System

Go to your regular meeting. Attend extra meetings if you can. Don’t rely solely on friends and family. Reach out to your sponsor; they want to hear from you!

5. Celebrate

Holidays are time for fun and traditions. Don’t be afraid to create new traditions or a give a try to a different kind of fun. Give thanks, have fun, and celebrate. Enjoy the holiday! 

BONUS

Seek professional help sooner rather than later. If you anticipate the holidays being especially difficult for you find a counselor NOW. Mental health services often require a waiting period to get started. Help is out there. Reach out today.