If you love all things fall and carving pumpkins, then you’re likely excited about celebrating Halloween. Even if you don’t dress up in a costume or have trick-or-treaters visiting your home, you might still receive invitations to Halloween parties. However, many Halloween parties tend to be more about alcohol than costumes or treats. If you’re sober, then you might steer clear of these invitations as a form of relapse prevention. If you need adolescent addiction treatment in North Carolina, contact Foothills at Red Oak today at 866.300.5275.
About Celebrating Halloween Sober
As challenging as it might sound, it isn’t impossible to have a sober Halloween. No matter how comfortable you feel about being around alcohol, the temptation to take a drink might infringe upon your Halloween celebrations. You deserve to have a fun and festive holiday with your peers. That’s why you should plan for saying no while still having fun.
Activities for Staying Sober During Halloween
If you plan to head to a Halloween party, keep in mind that drinks might be flowing. One of the best ways to avoid triggers is by staying home to celebrate the holiday. However, if you don’t want to miss out on the festivities, there are ways to have fun and stay sober. Here are some activities for remaining sober during a Halloween celebration.
- Create a haunted house: Avoid the party circuit by creating a haunted house in your front yard, your front porch, or in your home’s entryway. If you have a patio, set up different “haunted” stations and activities for visitors to explore.
- Focus on fun activities: If you’re hosting a Halloween party, focus on fun activities like costume contests, pumpkin decorating, and scavenger hunts. If you’re attending a party, look for activities that don’t involve drinking.
- Have a mocktail contest: No matter if you’re at a party or hosting one at your home, hosting a mocktail contest is a fun way to have an alcohol-free game.
- Spend time with family: A party atmosphere might be too triggering for you. If that’s the case, then consider volunteering to take younger family members or friends trick-or-treating. You and your family could also have a horror movie marathon.
Tips for a Sober Halloween Celebration
Having a great time celebrating Halloween isn’t impossible when you’re trying to remain sober. Even if you don’t think you’ll have an issue when arriving at a party, you must still have strategies in place. Here are some tips for having a sober celebration this Halloween:
- Contact your support system: Surround yourself by those who support your recovery. Head to parties and other events with others who can identify with what you’re going through and help you say no.
- Prepare ahead of time: Plan on attending events and gatherings that don’t feature alcohol as the main attraction. Focus on other parts of the holiday by visiting a pumpkin patch, focusing on the details of your costume, or going on hayrides.
- Set times for checking in: When you’re at an event or party, the time goes by quickly. It’s a big help setting up check-in times with friends who are watching out for you during your recovery.
- Strategize: Strategizing is different than planning because it means you’re making sure you know what to do if you’re in a triggering situation. Set rules for yourself, including how late you’re going to stay out or leaving if you start feeling uncomfortable.
Contact Foothills at Red Oak for More Information
It isn’t impossible to have a sober Halloween. If you have questions about celebrating Halloween without relapsing, now is the time to get the answers you need. In addition, if you’re considering getting sober, contact our team today. We offer a range of addiction treatment programs, including:
- Alcohol addiction treatment
- Heroin addiction treatment
- Cocaine addiction treatment
- Opioid addiction treatment
- Meth addiction treatment
Contact Foothills at Red Oak today at 866.300.5275 to learn more about our relapse prevention techniques and how our services can help.
