5 Ways to Enjoy a Sober Halloween

Facing Halloween in sobriety, especially if it’s your first time in a long time that you’ve experienced this holiday without drugs and alcohol, can feel like an insurmountable challenge. It’s a holiday when people shed their inhibitions and do mischief, and for many people, Halloween is synonymous with drinking and drug use. However, Halloween can go beyond an excuse to dress up and get wasted. With the spookiest day of the year just around the corner, here are some tips to inspire you if you haven’t made your sober plans yet.

Celebrating Your Sober Halloween

If you have been used to celebrating Halloween in a haze of drugs and alcohol, you may be worried you will feel like you're missing out on the fun when you’re staying sober. If you’re struggling to come up with some seasonal and enjoyable activities to do on Oct. 31 this year, discover a new sense of inspiration with these ideas.

1. Go All-Out on Your Decorating

It’s never too late to transform your house into the spookiest one in your neighborhood. Now that you’re not wasting all your money buying drugs or alcohol, you probably have some extra cash to buy black-and-orange lights, fake cobwebs, tombstones, skeletons and all the other trappings. Even if you’re on a limited budget, there are plenty of affordable DIY Halloween decorating ideas you can use to scare all the neighbors. Seeing the delight on the faces of kids and adults who come around to trick-or-treat will make all your efforts feel worthwhile.

2. Host a Horror Movie Marathon

Round up your favorite scary movies, then invite a couple of supportive friends over to your home to watch with you. This option is ideal if you are unsure if you’ll be able to avoid the triggers of alcohol and drugs at someone else’s party. Organizing a get-together in an environment where you have full control over factors such as who will be there and what refreshments you will serve will ensure you stay sober on Halloween.

3. Have a Pumpkin-Decorating Contest

It doesn’t truly feel like Halloween has arrived until you get a few pumpkins and start carving a scary (or silly) masterpiece. Hit up a nearby pumpkin patch or farmers’ market to pick out the perfect canvas on which to create, and invite some sober friends over to join the fun. When you’re finished decorating, you can judge who created the best jack-o’-lantern of them all. If you’re stuck for ideas on what to carve, download some templates online. And if you’re looking for a tasty, healthy snack, don’t forget to save the seeds for roasting.

4. Hit up a Haunted House or Ghost Tour

If you’re the type who loves a good scare, Halloween is the perfect day to go through a haunted house or take a ghost tour with a few brave friends. Or, you can research places near you that have a reputation for being haunted and design a custom ghost tour for you and your “boo crew.”

5. Volunteer for the Night

Often, the best way to enjoy a sober Halloween is to give back to others in the community. Many churches and family shelters host seasonal costume parties or trick-or-treating events for families who are going through hard times. Not only is volunteering an excellent way to enjoy Halloween sober, but you’ll also have the joy of knowing you did something nice for others.

Get Sober and Happy This Fall

Even though you won’t be drinking or using drugs this Halloween, you can have as much fun on the holiday as much as everyone else – or even more. Whether you decide to do one of these sober Halloween activities, or branch out on your own, make sure to surround yourself with people who love you and respect your need to protect your sobriety.

If you are a young adult wrestling with substance misuse issues, you can get your life back and reclaim your full potential. At Hope Academy, our programming will help you learn to become healthy, resilient and goal-oriented. Contact us today to start revealing who you are without the crutch of drugs and alcohol.

Tips for a Sober 4th of July

The Fourth of July can be a challenging and frustrating holiday during early recovery. But with the right steps it can also be the perfect holiday to celebrate your independence from the grips of addiction. Here are some ideas to enjoy your newfound sober freedom this July 4^th. 

• Make a grateful list. Jot down all the reasons why you’re grateful to be sober and free from drugs and/or alcohol. This simple exercise is a great way to start your July 4^th celebration.
• Go to a meeting. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who are also trying to stay sober on this day can help you stay strong and beat back any cravings. Not in the mood for a face-to-face meeting? Check out an online support group. 
• Start your own tradition. A big part of recovery is redefining fun so it doesn’t include alcohol and/or drugs. Gather some friends for a round of bowling or afternoon movie – or whatever sober activity makes you feel good.
• Throw a sober July 4th party. You can invite all your sober friends who are also looking for something fun to do sober. Put on some music, play board games, tie-dye t-shirts or bake cookies together. 
• Recruit a support friend. Whether you're headed to a beach party or just hanging home with close friends, it’s super helpful to have one special person who you know is ready to help if the pressure of the holiday becomes overwhelming. Along these same lines, if you do attend an event with drugs or alcohol, make sure you have an emergency escape plan ready. 

Finding a New Sober Freedom

As you move from the bondage of addiction toward the freedom of healing, the Hope Academy team helps you manage life, school, and sobriety setbacks. To learn more about our young adult addiction services or to begin the rehab admission process, call today: 866-930-4673.

How to Handle Holiday Relapse Triggers

Relapse triggers are seemingly everywhere this season – and, of course, what’s high risk for you might be low risk for someone else, depending on your stage of recovery. There are a few known holiday triggers, however, that you’ll likely want to prepare for. 

Take a look at our list below and then add your own personal triggers to ensure that you can enjoy the festivities and stay sober. 

• Hunger: Low blood sugar can make anyone feel anxious or irritable – and, in turn, this can lower your ability to fend off cravings or temptations.
• What to do: Try to eat six small nutritious meals per day, or snack every three hours. A combo that includes healthy carbs and low-fat protein will keep you satisfied longer. Some examples: Red and green bell pepper strips with hummus, grapes with low-fat string cheese, or a celery stalk with a dollop of peanut butter. 

• Stress: Unrealistic expectations, mounting to-do lists, lack of sleep, family overload and overpacked schedules this holiday can all lead to stress.
• What to do: Make relaxation a daily priority, whether you simply take a few minutes to meditate, enjoy a favorite pastime or meet up with a friend each day for a morning walk. 

• Family: If you’re able to go home for the holidays, you’ll likely encounter some unexpected questions and/or comments from a relative or two. 
• What to do: Do your best to prepare by creating a script for yourself. Consider talking to your addiction counselor or recovery peers for some ideas. 

• Loneliness: Whether you’re unable to go home or are missing old friends who are no longer in your life, the holidays can bring upon loneliness for many individuals in recovery.  
• What to do: Don’t isolate yourself. Find out what holiday events are taking place in rehab, attend a few extra meetings or support groups to stay on track, or line up a few close friends and families to celebrate with you this year.

• Lack of sleep: A good night’s sleep is essential for coping with stress – and, yet, stress can make shut-eye nearly impossible. 
• What to do: To keep your mind from racing before bed, relax with a book or calming bedtime ritual (meditation or yoga, for instance). Jotting down a to-do list before you head to bead is also a great way to clear your mind so you have an easier time falling (and staying) asleep. 

Addiction Aftercare & Support for Young Adults

Upon returning home, it is all-too-easy for clients to gravitate to former patterns, dangerous environmental triggers, and toxic relationships. At Hope Academy, we create a supportive transition between treatment completion and the return home, so clients have the best chance at sustained sobriety. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.

5 Tips to Survive Memorial Day Sober

Memorial Day is the kick-off to summer – and it’s also a prelude to the upcoming season of BBQs, bonfires, beach parties, outdoor concerts and festivals, and most often, alcohol. It’s easy to get nostalgic for those party days, or to feel like you’ll need to lock yourself inside to stay sober. But you don’t. You can still have fun and be sober – it just may take a little planning! Start with these tips. 

1. Identify your triggers ahead of time. It goes without saying that you need to be aware of your personal triggers – and to have a plan in place to avoid relapse. Especially if you’re brand-new to sobriety, your best bet may be to skip alcohol-filled BBQs or concerts this Memorial Day. Or, bring a sober friend along and make sure your sponsor is just a call or text away. 

2. Keep your glass filled—with water. Whether plain or sparkling or with a wedge of lemon or lime for flavor, good old H2O can help you beat the heat and keep cravings at bay. Plus, having a non-alcoholic beverage in your hand can help prevent any awkward questions about why you’re not drinking. 

3. Keep active. Start the long weekend with a good sweat session. It will help you feeling stronger and increase your confidence in staying clean and sober. Plus, exercise can give you a natural high to replace the artificial ones you may be craving.

4. Have an exit strategy. For example, you may ask a trusted friend to call you at a specific time to see how things are going, or tell the host ahead of time that you may have plans later. Knowing what you’re going to say ahead of time will help minimize the stress if you feel the need to flea the scene.

5. Create a brief gratitude list – and put it in your pocket. This can serve as a simple reminder about all you’ve achieved in your recovery and how grateful you are to be sober and alive! 

Making Better Choices Year-Round

Learning to make better choices is a key element of the young adult recovery program at Hope Academy. Our clients, ages 18-26, receive clinical treatment as well as one on one coaching in healthy nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and coping skills. Armed with this knowledge, they are able to recognize and manage their addiction triggers and cravings, and make healthier life choices. To find out more, call today: 866-930-4673.