The holiday season is just around the corner. While many are getting in on the festivities and making plans to celebrate, you could very well be dreading this time of year. And that’s entirely fair. Navigating the holidays in recovery from any addiction can be difficult, especially if you’re in porn addiction recovery.
However, you can survive the holidays in recovery. Your potential porn addiction triggers don’t have to take you back to square one. With an intentional holiday recovery plan, you can go into this season prepared to cope in healthy ways—allowing you to experience joy instead of dread in the coming weeks.
Why Spending the Holidays in Recovery is Hard
We realize that some of you may be tempted to coast through the holidays or “take a holiday” from your porn addiction recovery goals. Just in case that’s you, we want to give you a sobering reminder of why spending the holidays in recovery can be tough—not to demoralize you, but to get you in the proper mindset.
The holidays for many in recovery can create compromising situations, hard conversations, and triggering temptations that leave you vulnerable to relapse (if you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to make sure your porn blocker of choice is up and running smoothly). This tends to be a busy time of year, full of parties, events, and gatherings that are hard to say no to. Nearly nine in 10 adults say something causes them stress during the holidays, according to the American Psychological Association. Consequently, this busyness and constant stress can easily drive you to return to porn to cope.
The holidays also bring you closer to family or friends who may not be aware of your recovery needs, creating triggering situations for you. Or perhaps your porn addiction even caused hurt or betrayal trauma in those you love and seeing them again is a painful reminder. And if you’re traveling, you could be far away from your support network, leaving you all the more vulnerable .
And whether you’re in porn addiction recovery or not, the holidays can also drum up difficult feelings, such as the loss of a loved one, loneliness, or an unmet desire. When this happens, it’s tempting to think that everyone else is having the perfect holiday but you, leaving you stuck in comparison and spiraling into emotional triggers that can lead to porn relapse.
Porn Addiction Recovery Survival Tips for the Holidays
With recovery during the holidays looming, it’s time to make preparations in advance. If you go into the season ready to tackle your potential holiday recovery challenges, it’ll feel less daunting. So how can you navigate the holidays in recovery successfully? Here are a few recommendations to help you stay sober from porn addiction this season:
Create a Holiday Recovery Plan
Enter into the holiday season with the conviction that you’re going to continue the momentum of your porn addiction recovery. Strategically take inventory of your potential triggers and when or where they’re most likely to show up. Then, formulate a strategy for how you’ll avoid them. Consider how you’ll stay the course with any necessary recovery practices in spite of the busyness or travel plans that the holidays bring.
It’s probably a good idea to get in an extra session with your CSAT therapist or counselor to share your holiday recovery plan and goals. He or she can help you address any gaps in your preparations so you can feel confident in the coming weeks.
Set Healthy Boundaries
It’s likely that you’ll encounter vulnerable situations at various times during the holidays. Maybe it’s visiting certain relatives, attending the hometown Christmas party, or spending a lot of time at home with nothing to do. You may need to limit your time with certain people this holiday season or skip some festivity altogether in favor of preserving your porn addiction recovery. Or perhaps you need to pack that TV in your old room at home into a box in the closet to remove temptations. It’s OK to take drastic steps to set healthy boundaries, and you can do so in a tactful way if it involves others.
Stay in Touch with Your Recovery Team
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you have to disconnect from your support system. Approach a close friend or accountability partner about being the person you can call if you’re triggered this holiday season. If you’re traveling, explore if your porn addiction support group offers a virtual option, or look into groups local to the area you’re visiting as an alternative. Consider sharing your holiday recovery plans with a supportive family member who can help plan non-triggering activities with you this season. Having people in your corner makes a big difference in maintaining your recovery goals.
Maintain Self-Care
While others are indulging or taking a break from their routines, it’s important for you to maintain proper self-care during your holidays in recovery. Make sure you get enough sleep and eat healthy. Keep exercise, meditation, and rest in your schedule amidst all the busyness, too. This may be easier said than done, but it’s really important to your sobriety.
Pursue Goodness and Gratitude
Isn’t this what the holidays in many ways are all about? Be intentional in prioritizing people and activities this holiday season that lift your spirits. Consider scheduling service projects on your calendar so you can give back. These life-giving experiences can lead you to be grateful for the things you have—and all the progress you’ve made in your porn addiction recovery journey.
Spending the Holidays in Recovery? Don’t Forget to Seek Professional Help if Needed
Lastly, if you’re struggling with your recovery this holiday season, remember there are professional treatment options in place that can help. At Integrative Life Center in Nashville, TN, we provide outpatient, aftercare, and alumni programs to support your porn addiction recovery efforts. To learn more, contact our team today.
