Holiday Survival Guide
For The Alcoholic

Holidays happen most every month, if not national ones, than personal ones like birthdays, job-related celebrations, anniversaries, and birthdays. These are all events where alcohol may be a part of the scene and a temptation to the person trying to manage the disease, alcoholism.

This is an especially trying time of year for someone struggling with alcohol dependency, because alcohol is a traditionally expected part of some celebrations. Where that fact may have been a happy one while partaking of alcoholic drinks; as someone who cannot partake, it can be a nightmare.

Here are some tips that may help to guide you safely through these events and allow you to celebrate them with a minimal amount of anxiety.

Plan to stay sober. You must put some thought into this plan. This plan should include several key parts.

1. An escape plan for if the temptation becomes too great to resist and you need to leave the celebration quickly. A confident and non-drinking buddy is important to have along with you.

2. When accepting the invitation to the celebration assure the host/hostess that you will attend for a short while.

3. Drink non-alcoholic beverages and be sure you trust the person giving you the drink, better yet make your own drink if possible.

4. Now is the time to attend your support group(s) more often, not less.

5. Stay knowledgeable about your disease, including the addictive part of it. Dont be fooled into thinking that because you have gone through treatment that the pull will lessen. You must always be aware and on guard.

6. Surround yourself with non-drinking friends and acquaintances whenever possible. Avoid the temptation. Non-alcoholic celebrations can be just as jovial.

7. Seek help through prayer or mediation to gather inner strength.

8. If date/partner/spouse is a drinker (not wise, but sometimes unavoidable) then insist on driving by yourself to the party and meet them there. This way if they start to drink and have a good time and you need to leave, you can.

Did You Know

Alcoholism is influenced by both hereditary and environmental factors. Addictions, particularly addictions to alcohol tend to run in families and it is known that genes to play a role in that process. Research has shown in recent years that people who have/had alcoholic parents are more likely to develop the same disorder themselves.

Interestingly, men have a greater propensity towards alcoholism in this circumstance than women. People with lowered inhibitions are at an even greater risk for becoming alcoholics. The two main characteristics for becoming addicted to alcohol stem from having an immediate family member who is an alcoholic and having a high-risk personality.

A person with a high-risk personality is one where he or she has lower inhibitions and thrives on taking risks in most all situations. If a person comes from a family with one or more alcoholics and likes to take risks, they should recognized that they are at what is considered high risk for becoming an alcoholic.

At this time, it is thought that the genetic tendency toward alcoholism in a person does not ensure that he or she will become an alcoholic but instead just means that those people feel the effects of the alcohol more intensely and quickly. In effect, the determination of genetic risk is only a determination of higher risk toward the addiction and not necessarily an indication of future alcoholism.

9. Always remember that you have a disease that can be fatal if not managed properly, that glass or bottle of alcohol is so not worth it!

10. Keep loved ones or your sponsor close to you during holidays and any other trying times. Make sure you surround yourself with those who understand your treatment program enough to remind you about your plan or steps, even if doing so normally irritates you. You will be glad during the holidays to have this extra support. Keeping in mind also, that ultimately sobriety is a personal responsibility.

Interesting Facts

Group therapy or attending a self help group is always beneficial to anyone wanting to recover from alcoholism.

11. Stay active and involved in holiday activities that your support group will be having to assist you in surviving the holidays. Understand that your first holiday season (Thanksgiving through New Years) sober, will be your toughest and you really need to have a huge arsenal of support lined up and a iron-clad plan, before they begin.

Get assistance making your plan from your doctor, treatment facilitator, sponsor, support group, best friend, or relative.

Alcoholism in the News

08/28/2008
Breaking the Bonds -- New Memoir Recounts the Author's Battle With OCD and Alcoholism (GlobeNewswire via Yahoo! Finance)
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio, Aug. 28, 2008 -- Do you keep checking little things over and over again? Are you caught up in routines you are compelled to do? Are there persistent thoughts that circle endlessly in your mind?

Breaking the Bonds -- New Memoir Recounts the Author's Battle With OCD and Alcoholism (GlobeNewswire via Yahoo! Finance)

08/27/2008
Miss USA Tara Conner teaching charm school? (Los Angeles Times)
The 2006 Miss USA winner who almost lost her crown amid reports of alcoholism, drug abuse and promiscuity is back in a new MTV reality show.

Miss USA Tara Conner teaching charm school? (Los Angeles Times)

08/28/2008
'Strengthening Families' topic of 14-week program (The Reporter)
A free 14-week program called "Strengthening Families" will be offered by the Somerset Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency on Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 2, from 6-8 p.m.

'Strengthening Families' topic of 14-week program (The Reporter)

08/25/2008
Alcoholism in Hawaii to be House topic tomorrow (Honolulu Advertiser)
The House Health Committee has scheduled an informational briefing for tomorrow morning on alcoholism in Hawai'i and the reasons why the state has one of the highest rates of drunken driving in the United States.

Alcoholism in Hawaii to be House topic tomorrow (Honolulu Advertiser)

08/28/2008
'Strengthening Families' topic of 14-week program (The Reporter)
A free 14-week program called "Strengthening Families" will be offered by the Somerset Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency on Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 2, from 6-8 p.m.

'Strengthening Families' topic of 14-week program (The Reporter)

08/25/2008
Alcoholism in Hawaii to be House topic tomorrow (Honolulu Advertiser)
The House Health Committee has scheduled an informational briefing for tomorrow morning on alcoholism in Hawai'i and the reasons why the state has one of the highest rates of drunken driving in the United States.

Alcoholism in Hawaii to be House topic tomorrow (Honolulu Advertiser)

08/28/2008
Obama: The journey of a confident man (Politico via Yahoo! News)
DENVER — It is natural to describe Barack Obama’s flight from obscure state senator to presidential nominee, from a head-turning 2004 speech in Boston to the pinnacle of American politics in Denver in 2008, as a success story beyond imagination.

Obama: The journey of a confident man (Politico via Yahoo! News)

08/28/2008
Obama: The journey of a confident man (Politico via Yahoo! News)
DENVER — It is natural to describe Barack Obama’s flight from obscure state senator to presidential nominee, from a head-turning 2004 speech in Boston to the pinnacle of American politics in Denver in 2008, as a success story beyond imagination.

Obama: The journey of a confident man (Politico via Yahoo! News)

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Better Your Health

Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem


◦	What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse

◦	The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse

◦	What is the Attraction To Alcohol

◦	FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1

◦	FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2

◦	A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism

◦	Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus

◦	The Brain And Alcohol

◦	Health Risks For Women Alcoholics

◦	Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic

◦	How A Child See's Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism Detoxification Steps

◦	Alcoholism and the Workplace

◦	The Children of Alcoholics

◦	Common Questions About Alcoholism

◦	Tests for Alcohol Use

◦	Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center

◦	The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving

◦	The War On Drunk Driving

◦	How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help

◦	Some Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

◦	Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal

◦	Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking

◦	A Portrait Of An Alcoholic

◦	The Symptoms of Alcoholism

◦	Basic Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Hard Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer

◦	The College Campus And Alcoholism

◦	Dangers of Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6

◦	Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12

◦	What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout

◦	New Shot to Treat Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism's Physical Effects

◦	Group Support For Alcoholism

◦	Threats From Alcoholism

◦	The Truth About Alcoholism

◦	Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism

◦	Treatments for Alcoholism

◦	Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic

◦	Recovering From Alcoholism

◦	Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic

◦	What Is Alcholism

◦	Family Members Drinking Too Much

◦	Explain Alcoholism

◦	Who Are The Alcoholics

◦	Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism

◦	Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family

◦	Health Consequences Of Alcoholism

◦	Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism

◦	Screening Tests For Alcoholism

◦	What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism

◦	How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA

◦	The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous

◦	Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable

◦	The Causes of Alcoholism

◦	So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?

◦	Is Alcoholism Hereditary

◦	What Children Need to Know About Alcohol

◦	How to Recognize When Children are Drinking

◦	What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic

◦	How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight

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Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic

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Holiday Survival Guide
For The Alcoholic