If you are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication, rehabilitation can be the only way out. Unfortunately for many of us, it is difficult to make the choices to commit to attending a treatment center, thanks to shame, stigma built up around addiction, and sometimes even the inability to get away from work or family obligations. Christmas presents a unique opportunity for many to get away, in that long holidays of 2-3 weeks are common, extended family visits are also common, and many people don’t actually want to spend that time at home or with family.
However, the opposite problem may also exist, and you may want to spend the time with family, at parties, or just enjoying yourself. Whatever your reasons, Christmas is actually a great time to get away from everything and get your life back by attending a treatment program to beat your addiction. If you are struggling with an addiction, this means that Christmas can present a unique opportunity for you to seek out rehabilitation with a minimum of fuss and even a minimum of notice.
Do You Need Treatment? You probably know if you’re addicted, dependent, and need treatment. You can use your own judgment, but be honest with yourself. If you’re making excuses, taking or using more than you used to, or using habitually, you’re probably addicted. Signs that you may need treatment include:
- You use drugs and alcohol habitually
- You use substances to cope with stress
- You take prescription medication outside of recommended times and/or take more than is recommended.
- You use in work situations
- You think about using when not in a social situation
- Your life is negatively affected by your substance use
Is Christmas the Right Time? Christmas is a great time to go to a treatment center for a number of reasons.
Work – Taking leave at Christmas time makes it easier to submit a request for paid or unpaid leave without telling your employer why. While telling your employer that you are spending extended time with family may be a lie, it can help you to keep your job. Importantly, you aren’t actually obligated to tell your employer when you go through rehabilitation. However, you don’t have to lie about it and most employers will be reasonable, especially if you’ve been working there for 12 months or longer. In this case, you can explain your situation, explain that you’re taking vacation time to help with it, and then you will have an easier time asking for help through the Employee Assistance Program. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ensures that you have a minimum of 12 weeks of unpaid family or medical leave per year for your own personal reasons, and you don’t have to tell your employer which.
Avoiding Stress – Christmas is a very stressful time for many of us, and spending time with family isn’t always the best time. This is especially true if your family is dysfunctional, doesn’t approve of your lifestyle, or is part of your lifestyle. Taking a break and spending the time in rehab instead can give you a much needed break from the stress of obligations, decoration, family, and travel. While many of us cling to the idea of spending time with family, even a less than supportive one, as a mainstay for Christmas, it can be more helpful to let it go, spend the time recovering, and then go back to your family without your addiction.
Avoiding Temptation – Christmas and the entire holiday season is often used as an excuse to party, abuse substances, drink alcohol, and otherwise forget about daily life. This can be extremely harmful if you are already addicted to a substance and overindulgence can be harmful because you have to take too much to get the same result. Going into rehab to avoid this issue will allow you to get a clean start without overindulging first, so that you are on a better track towards success. If you’re looking forward to a season full of parties and alcohol, you probably need addiction treatment more than ever. Importantly an “I’ll do this after the holidays” mentality won’t work, and you’ll likely come up with another excuse when the holidays are over. Taking the plunge, commit to rehab, and going in for treatment now will ensure that your new year will be a better one. Christmas is a time where many of us are faced with addiction triggers, stress, and temptation in the form of constant parties and alcohol. This will never go away, but if you are addicted now, choosing to spend the time in rehabilitation can ensure that your next one is better, no matter what your circumstances. The Oceanfront Recovery Addiction Treatment Program can help you or your loved one through the process of recovery from addiction. Our clinicians focus on bringing the underlying causes of addiction to the surface with a modern and effective recovery program in a closed setting. Contact Oceanfront Recovery today for a confidential assessment, and begin the journey of recovery today.
