The holidays can be a difficult and triggering time for loved ones in recovery from trauma, addiction, and related issues. Approach your loved ones with empathy- even if you cannot understand what they are going through, you can have compassion for their experience. Choose to celebrate and support your loved one’s recovery.
Ask Them What They Need
Loved ones who are in their first year of recovery from trauma, addiction, and related issues are learning how to define their needs. The mental, physical, and spiritual effects of trauma, addiction, or other mental health issues can block the natural relationship between oneself and one’s needs. Like a small child without the vocabulary to express their emotions, your loved one may be deficient in the skills necessary for effectively communicating their feelings, thoughts, fears, wants, and needs. Even though they may not know what they need, it will make all the difference for you to ask and support them in the discovery process.
The holidays can be extremely stimulating and overwhelming for your loved one who is recovering from trauma. Even a holiday like Thanksgiving which is focused on family, togetherness, gratitude, and thankfulness could feel intimidating. By asking your loved one what they need and helping them develop a plan to meet those needs, as well as compromise where necessary, you can aid in making a first holiday of recovery a positive experience.
Understand Their Triggers
One difficult tenet of recovery that all people in recovery grow to understand is that the world does not operate according to their triggers. While it is helpful to communicate them and try to enforce them as much as possible, the world is not obligated to act in sensitivity to one’s triggers. Part of recovery from trauma and related issues is learning how to manage reactions to triggers as adequately as possible, anticipating the fact that they will exist.
Engage in a conversation with your loved one about what triggers the Thanksgiving or another holiday might bring to them. Help them explore their fears from a safe and secure place while developing a grounded sense of the present by touching on the reality: you will be there to support and love them.
Encourage Them to Practice Self-Care
The serenity of your loved one during Thanksgiving or another holiday is not dependent on you. Though your loved one is early in recovery and sophomoric in their coping abilities, it is still important for them to attempt self-soothing and self-care as much as possible. Before, during, and after the holiday events, encourage your loved one to practice their self-care. Remind them that they are capable of practicing self-care and that they are entitled to taking time for taking care of themselves in the way that they need.
You can live life with confidence. Everyone has a story before they come to treatment. When you arrive at The Guest House Ocala, you arrive to open, welcoming arms. Our treatment programs are customized concierge style to meet your every unique need in order to heal from trauma, addictions, and other related mental health issues. Call us today for information on life at the estate: 1-855-483-7800