How to Explain Recovery to Family and Friends

How to Explain Recovery to Family and Friends With the holiday season approaching, you might start seeing family and friends that you haven’t seen in a while. While it is great to see everyone, there is something new about you this year — you are sober. They might wonder why you are not partaking in wine or spiked eggnog at holiday events, so it’s important to have a plan in place and know how to explain recovery to family and friends when these questions arise. Keep It Positive Now that you’re sober, your life has improved in so many ways. Chances are your health has improved dramatically, your relationships are getting better, your life is more fulfilling, and you just feel better. Getting sober has been one of the best decisions you’ve ever made, so be proud of it! By saying, “I don’t drink anymore because I had a bad problem and needed to go to rehab”, you might be putting a negative spin on it in some people’s eyes. Instead, by saying “I am sober now, and I feel great!” you will leave people feeling proud of you, and possibly even envious. This can further lead you to shift the conversation from not having a glass of wine in your hand to how much better your life is, and what types of positive experiences you have encountered since becoming sober. Be Prepared to Say No While you should keep it positive, there might be some instances where you need to give a firm “no”. Sobriety is difficult for a lot of people to understand, especially those peop...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Addiction Recovery family family disease family involvement family program family support family therapy holiday parties recovered addict Successful Addiction Recovery Source Type: blogs