If this is your first sober Halloween, you may have some difficulty even remembering a time where the mischief, whimsy-defined holiday did not include drugs or alcohol. Strategizing on how to maintain your sobriety amidst social temptations and calendar year associations can be tricky. However, when you look back at your younger days, you are likely to recall elements of October 31st that you enjoyed even more without the dulling effects of substance use, activities that you can enjoy even more as an adult.
Our rehab aftercare program at Gulf Breeze Recovery can help you acquire the tools to enjoy beloved holidays without fear. Call our team at 833.551.2304 to learn more about how our unique, holistic approach allows you to not only correct problem dependencies but enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life in all of your endeavors!
Sober Activity Suggestions For A Sober Halloween
You may be tempted to try to bury your head in the sand and avoid signs of Halloween as it approaches. However, a more effective strategy may be actually to double down on holiday preparations. Although this might seem counter-intuitive, consider some of the unique qualities of Halloween. Many creatively-minded people consider Halloween their favorite holiday. Why? Because so many of the cultural traditions surrounding the evening’s festivities allow you to use your hands and imagination to create extraordinary things!
Here are some ideas to get started:
- Take on some mentally consuming, labor-intensive tasks like carving a porch full of pumpkins or a new handicraft like candy-making.
- Go all-out to design a haunted house (a great way to put any money saved from your newfound sobriety to use).
- Build the Halloween costume of your dreams, and go out into the neighborhood to delight trick-or-treaters.
- Make specific plans with your children or friend’s children to chaperone Halloween parties, trick-or-treating, or other events, allowing you to participate in some nostalgic fun.
- Organizing your own party, so you can control the sweets and treats being served (as well as the activities, such as a horror movie marathon or karaoke contest).
What If The Sober Activities I Plan Don’t Work?
You may accidentally encounter a benign-seeming trigger, such as a film or costume, despite the very best of planning. For example, perhaps if you are watching Stephen King’s “The Shining” for the first time during your inaugural sober Halloween, you didn’t even realize that the story is really about a writer in recovery!
Similarly, you may accidentally consume an alcohol-flavored treat, marijuana-infused edibles, etc. To maximize your holiday enjoyment, it will be a good idea to form some contingency plans. That way, you can go out into your community and enjoy yourself, with the comfort of knowing exactly what to do if you find yourself in a challenging situation.
Some tips for effective planning include:
- Talk to your counselor or support group during the weeks before Halloween to vet your plans.
- If you travel to a new town or city, make sure to research AA or NA meetings happening at the time of your event.
- If your guests want to bring food or drink, be very clear that all consumables should be “child-friendly,” or explain that all items should include an ingredients list for allergy sufferers.
In addition, it might be a good idea to make plans to attend a meeting immediately following Halloween. This allows you a great opportunity to identify what elements of your planning were successful and what potential triggers you may want to keep in mind as you continue into the remainder of the holiday season.
Discover More About the Rehab Aftercare Program at Gulf Breeze Recovery
At Gulf Breeze Recovery, we offer a comprehensive rehab aftercare program to help you navigate common triggers like holiday gatherings. Call our team at 833.551.2304 to learn how to help you conquer your substance abuse problem now and for the rest of your life.
