Potential Benefits Of Going To Rehab Over The Holidays

The holiday season is a time for camaraderie, celebration, and acknowledgment of loved ones, with people enjoying traditional meals, sharing gifts, and bringing in the new year together. Many will attend parties and family gatherings where drinking or other forms of substance use occur, making these otherwise joyful events difficult for people in early recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs).

For people with SUDs who haven’t yet received treatment, substance use may increase this time of year due to common stressors. People who aren’t in close contact with their families, friends, or partners, or whose relationships are stressed, may feel particularly isolated this time of year. Financial stress caused by gift shopping and traveling can also add up.

Whether you are considering addiction treatment for the first time or are in recovery and experiencing a relapse, the holidays can be a great time to receive treatment. Addiction treatment during the holidays can help you build your support system, instill healthy coping skills and holiday traditions, and more, and may even provide easier access to care, with more beds and more individualized attention available at many rehab centers.

Benefits Of Rehab Over The Holidays

Americans from every corner of the country come together during the holiday season to celebrate the year’s accomplishments, give thanks for each other, and let off some steam before the new year. When people come together during this festive time, more likely than not, alcohol will be included in the mix, and possibly other substances of abuse.

During special times such as a holiday, a social event, or a vacation, people in addiction recovery are more likely to relapse, bargaining that the substance use was justified, according to a 2023 study by researchers at the University of Nebraska. The end of the year can involve many such special times for many people, greatly increasing the risk of relapse.

However, a relapse isn’t the only reason a person benefits from addiction treatment over the holidays. People who have never received treatment for a drug or alcohol issue also receive benefits from seeking treatment this time of year.

Support During What Can Be A Stressful Time

Addiction treatment centers provide a safe, recovery-focused environment for people with SUDs. Whereas the outside world can be filled with triggers, chances to indulge in drugs or alcohol, and people with stigmas against addiction, a treatment facility encourages clients and helps them recover through therapy, counseling, wellness activities, and more. Group sessions help clients connect through shared experiences. Clients build coping skills through therapy and counseling sessions and feel supported through the ups and downs of recovery.

The holiday season can be fun, but it can also create stress, loneliness, and anxiety about big gatherings, gift shopping, or a lack of connection with loved ones. These concerns take a back seat when receiving treatment, making your recovery and overall mental health the top priority.

Potentially Easier Access To Treatment

Many people aren’t looking to start addiction treatment during the busy holiday season. With fewer people seeking treatment, facilities tend to have more beds available during the holidays, even those that usually have waitlists. This may also translate to more individual time with staff for clients and the ability to use amenities at a rate they please. With less of a demand, some treatment centers may offer discounted rates as well.

Access to treatment may also be easier for people who plan on using health insurance and have already met their deductible or out-of-pocket maximum for the year.

Opportunity To Create Healthy Holiday Traditions

For people with SUDs, the holiday season can become synonymous with overindulgence in substances, conflicts with loved ones, or other difficult experiences. Deciding to attend rehab over the holidays can mark a shift in the holiday narrative away from substance use and toward recovery and improved health and relationships.

When people get at the roots of their addiction and address unresolved trauma, develop healthy coping skills, and build a support system, they can begin to enjoy the holidays, free from a reliance on drugs or alcohol. This can make the new year appear bright for the first time in a long time for many.

Chance To Build And Strengthen Your Support System

Many people feel alone during the holidays, physically or emotionally, which can lead to substance use. People with untreated addiction or in early recovery often need a wide network of sober, recovery-oriented peers and loved ones around them. Well-meaning family and friends may not necessarily understand what their loved one is going through or be able to provide support.

When attending a drug rehab program over the holidays, people connect with peers seeking sobriety. They also engage on a day-to-day basis with addiction recovery specialists who know what to expect and how to offer support. Family involvement options may also be offered, helping family members offer support. In this way, clients receive the building blocks of a support system that can last them the rest of their lives.

Get Back On Track Following A Relapse

Relapse is a common part of the recovery process, not a failure. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that approximately 60% of people with substance dependence eventually achieve sobriety, but many relapse before reaching this goal.

Because the holidays increase the chances of a relapse, people in recovery can benefit from taking time to review their relapse prevention plan this time of year. If a relapse does occur, returning to treatment can help people get back on track quickly, stay safe, and even bolster their recovery, as an opportunity to learn from what is and isn’t working for them and to make adjustments.

Holiday Season Relapse Risks During Recovery

Stress, loneliness, and even seeing other people indulge in alcohol or drugs during the holidays may cause people in recovery to return to using drugs or alcohol. Here are some main triggers to consider and prepare for during the holiday season.

Non-Sober Environments

The holidays often involve family gatherings, work parties, and other events that involve alcohol, where drug use may be common too. These social events can be filled with triggers for people in recovery from an SUD, such as being around substances, seeing other people use substances, or feeling isolated when not using substances.

Financial & Other Stress

Stress is an issue for many people during the holidays. Gift-giving is one of the main aspects of the season for many people, but taking the time to find the perfect gift for a partner, family members, friends, and even coworkers can be stressful along with being time-consuming and costly. If someone doesn’t have the finances or the time to put into finding the right gift, they may feel guilty, sad, or unworthy. Attending social events, traveling, and even staying inside more due to colder weather can add to stress this time of year.

Isolation And Loneliness

Many people associate the holidays with togetherness with loved ones, but for some, the holidays represent the opposite.

People in addiction recovery may have behaved in ways that put a strain on their key relationships while experiencing active addiction. If those relationships have yet to be repaired, the expectation of being with family and friends this time of year may contribute to feelings of loneliness.

Planning Addiction Recovery Over The Holidays

The holiday season doesn’t have to be a time of stress, loneliness, or relapse. At Spring Hill Recovery Center, we are open and ready to help during the holidays, and every day of the year.

Verify Insurance Coverage

If you are planning on using your health insurance to pay for treatment, we can provide you with fast, free insurance verification. We accept most private insurance plans and TRICARE military insurance and are in-network with many major providers. Our specialists can help connect you with the best treatment approach for your unique situation, whether with Spring Hill or another provider.

Get Time Off Work

Treatment for moderate to severe addictions tends to involve an inpatient or residential level of care, where you stay onsite for a period of weeks or even a couple of months. For people with jobs, this means that you may need help securing your job while you receive treatment. The specialists at Spring Hill can help, including with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) paperwork, communication with your employer for a return-to-work plan, or other required steps.

Let Loved Ones Know

You’ll also likely want to let your loved ones know that you’ll be receiving treatment over the holidays. Family members who want to support your recovery have many opportunities to do so at Spring Hill. Our five-week family education series is offered via Zoom to increase accessibility, educating family members about addiction and the recovery process so that they can offer you support as needed and find support themselves.

Call To Learn More

If you have questions about addiction treatment during the holidays at Spring Hill, or any time of year, please reach out to us today—we are here to help.