Handling Holiday Pressures

Written by Hal Baumchen, PsyD, LP, LADC, this worksheet acknowledges both the joy and the genuine difficulty holidays can bring for people in recovery. It opens with a reflective writing prompt asking readers to examine past holiday experiences – the traditions, the conflicts, the expectations, and the role substance use has played – and to begin identifying what challenges they anticipate in the season ahead. A list of common reasons holidays are hard in recovery helps readers name the specific dynamics at play, from family pecking orders and old roles being reinstated to grief, financial pressure, and the pain of having progress ignored or minimized. A stressor checklist and targeted reflection questions then guide readers to think through who they will see, what interpersonal difficulties may arise, and how they can plan to navigate them. The worksheet addresses holiday depression and seasonal affective disorder directly, offering a robust list of prevention strategies covering social support, sleep, sobriety, accountability, and self-care. A set of positive recovery commitments gives readers concrete, affirming language to carry into challenging situations. The worksheet closes with a planning exercise asking readers to write a personalized holiday recovery plan that addresses boundaries, temptation, contact limits, and accountability – turning awareness into a practical, protective strategy.