Tips for Enjoying Happy, Sober Holidays

• Jurisdiction: California,United States
• Citation: Vol. 12 No. 2016 Pg. 03
• Pages: 03
• Publication year: 2016

Tips for enjoying happy, sober holidays No. 2016 #03 California Bar Journal December, 2016

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Editor's note: This article was originally published by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in November 2015 and is reprinted here with permission. A recent survey by the foundation and the American Bar Association indicates that as many as one out of every three lawyers is a problem drinker. The State Bar of California’s Lawyer Assistance Program can help. Call 877-LAP-4HELP (877-527-4435) or email LAP@calbar.ca.gov.

"Stressful.” “Weird.” “Dangerous.”

These are unusual adjectives to describe what traditionally is known as the most festive of seasons. But to millions of people in recovery from addiction to alcohol or other drugs, holiday stress can trigger relapse. And families and friends often face the anxiety of dealing with an intoxicated loved one during holiday get-togethers or with the uncertainty of how to act around someone in treatment and recovery.

"For many, the holidays are not a joyous time of the year, but rather a season filled with loneliness, anxiety, self-doubt and unachievable expectations that can result in serious consequences for individuals and families struggling with addiction issues," says Dr. Joseph Lee, medical director of the Youth Continuum at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Plymouth, Minnesota. “Cross-generational family gatherings – those gatherings that happen often during the holiday season – are...