If you’re recovering from addiction, St. Patrick's Day can be difficult to navigate. It's known to be a holiday centered around drinking. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed or even excluded if you can't partake in the festivities. Especially, if that is how your friends choose to celebrate.
Luckily, no pun intended, there are other ways to celebrate and still have a fun, safe, and sober St. Patrick's Day. As an addiction therapist in Brentwood, I have a few tips to help you celebrate the holiday while honoring your sobriety. So, in this blog, we will take a look at different strategies to celebrate the holiday.
You Don't Have to Drink to Have Fun
If you’re focusing on your recovery, you may know this, but it doesn't hurt to remind yourself. You don't have to drink to have fun or be included in the festivities. You can still be part of the festivities without having to drink. However, if you feel as if you need to drink to have fun or have difficulty saying no, this may be a sign that it's time to reflect and review your drinking.
Take time to reflect on past times that you did something fun and if you needed to drink or not. If you haven't been able to have fun without drinking, it's time to reevaluate your journey with sobriety. This may be when you need to tag in a professional, such as an addiction therapist.
You Don't Have to Go, and You Don't Have to Stay
During holidays such as St. Patrick's Day, you will be invited to all types of events that involve drinking or other triggers. You don't have to go to anything that you know will be overwhelming or that will trigger you. This also means you don't have to stay if you choose to go.
If you do choose to go and find the event overwhelming, it's perfectly fine to leave. There is no reason to make yourself uncomfortable. Don't worry about letting people down. Pleasing people isn't more important than your sobriety. You are the number one priority, and you will thank yourself later for making sure that you take care of yourself.
Meet Up With Your Friends the Day After
If your friends celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a night out, meet up the day after for breakfast or brunch. They can celebrate how they please and you don't have to worry about the temptation or triggers that come with being around a night-out setting. You can still have an enjoyable time and catch up with your friends without having the negative memories associated with St. Patrick's Day that can come with alcohol and other triggers.
Host Your Own Party
This can be an opportunity to host a sober party and invite your friends who would like an alternative to going out. You can have activities such as St. Patrick's Day trivia, and everyone can eat traditional Irish food at a pub or cook it themselves. You can also watch the parade or a St. Patrick's Day movie together. Making the holiday about family, friends, faith, and food can help you be more mindful of why you are celebrating.
Plus, it can be a way for you to break the norm and stereotype that St. Patrick's Day is all about drinking. You can make it an opportunity to learn more about the religion and culture, as well as the history of this holiday.
Learn More About the History of St. Patrick's Day
Many people don't know the history behind St. Patrick's Day. It is a religious holiday, and it has more to do with faith and culture than it does with drinking. The Irish have been observing this holiday for over 1,000 years which is an amazing feat. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and lived during the 5th century. He was born in Roman Britain and was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16.
Later, he escaped but returned to Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to the Irish people. The most well-known legend of St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock. This is why the shamrock has become a popular symbol of St. Patrick's Day. So it's important that we focus on celebrating Saint Patrick and his legacy this holiday rather than just drinking.
It takes sacrifice, but you don't have to drink to enjoy St. Patrick's Day. And with these tips, you can have a sober and meaningful celebration. Have faith in yourself and enjoy the culture and tradition. And remember that sobriety is a journey, not a destination. Happy St. Patrick's Day!
INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH A THERAPIST IN BRENTWOOD, TN
Having strategies to celebrate holidays without drinking is an important part of the addiction recovery process. Working with a therapist in Brentwood, TN can help you develop healthier coping strategies to take control of your addiction and maintain sobriety. At Vitus Counseling, I specialize in addiction therapy and offer a safe, supportive space to help individuals develop the skills they need to live a life free from addiction. If you are ready to start your therapy journey you can follow these simple steps:
Contact me at stucook@vituscounseling.com or (615)-709-5779.
Set up a free consultation call and learn more about my approach to counseling.
Start creating strategies that work for you and your lifestyle!
ADDITIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT VITUS COUNSELING
At Vitus Counseling, I offer a range of services to support you and your loved ones on your journey to emotional and mental well-being. I specialize in therapy for trauma or PTSD, as well as for anxiety and depression. Additionally, I provide addiction treatment for those seeking support for substance abuse. Vitus Counseling is located in Brentwood, TN outside of Nashville. However, I also offer online counseling to anyone living within the state of Tennessee, so I can offer you support even if you cannot make it to my clinic. If you need support creating sobriety strategies or anything else, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here for you!
