Summary: <p>Relapse Prevention During the Holidays<br> Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs</p> <p>A counseling continuing education course on this topic can be purchased at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/348/c/">https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/348/c/</a></p> <p>Objectives<br> ~Define Relapse<br> ~Identify exacerbating and mitigating factors for relapse<br> ~Explore unique relapse triggers and traps during the holidays</p> <p>What is Relapse<br> ~Relapse is the recurrence of symptoms<br> ~Emotional<br> ~Cognitive<br> ~Behavioral<br> ~Relapse warning signs are when the person starts down that path</p> <p>Relapse Warning Signs<br> ~Living mindLESSly<br> ~Overcommitting<br> ~To avoid feelings<br> ~To get approval / not disappoint<br> ~Sleeping too much or too little<br> ~Eating too much or too little<br> ~Failing to relax and include pleasurable activities<br> ~Getting stressed over things you cannot control<br> ~Withdrawing from positive social support</p> <p>Unique Triggers Around Holidays<br> ~Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years<br> ~Family and social gatherings<br> ~Loneliness<br> ~Abundant food and drink<br> ~Lots of additional time demands<br> ~What do I have to be thankful for?!?!<br> ~Beaver Cleaver Christmas<br> ~Reminders of losses<br> ~Financial stresses<br> ~Another year SSDD</p> <p>Unique Triggers Around Holidays<br> ~Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years<br> ~Family and social gatherings<br> ~If you have to be there, figure out how to cope with the people you don’t want to be around<br> ~Positive mantras<br> ~Don’t give them your power and reward them by feeding in<br> ~Rehears coping strategies and refusal skills<br> ~Identify 2 or 3 people you want to shadow<br> ~If it is an unsafe situation<br> ~Rehearse how to politely decline an invitation<br> ~Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind (Dr. Seuss<br> ~Identify a legitimate reason you cannot go</p> <p>Unique Triggers Around Holidays<br> ~Loneliness<br> ~Invitations always ask for a +1<br> ~People are shopping for everyone else<br> ~Shop for the less fortunate<br> ~People are going to family gatherings<br> ~Find other people without a place to go and invite them over*<br> ~Go hiking<br> ~Commune with your higher power<br> ~Skype/Facetime<br> Unique Triggers Around Holidays<br> ~Abundant Food and Drink<br> ~Don’t go famished<br> ~Stay as far away from the buffet table as you can<br> ~Eat mindfully if you have to eat<br> ~Avoid eating out of stress<br> ~Choose lower calorie options<br> ~Get very small helpings<br> ~Bring a lower calorie dish to potlucks<br> ~Actively sip on water or low calorie drinks<br> ~Have a battle buddy<br> ~Play the tape through<br> ~Cook at your own house (and send the leftovers away)</p> <p>Unique Triggers Around Holidays<br> ~Time Demands<br> ~Time management is a priority<br> ~What can you let go to make time for the seasonal demands<br> ~You don’t have to stay for hours<br> ~What Do I have to Be Thankful For?<br> ~Volunteer at a soup kitchen or habitat for humanity<br> ~Hand out blankets to the homeless<br> ~Go to a meeting/ 12-step celebration<br> ~Review your gratitude journal<br> ~Visit the sick*</p> <p>Unique Triggers<br> ~Beaver Cleaver Christmas<br> ~What is it about it that you envy?<br> ~How can you meet those wants?<br> ~Avoid holiday specials that will get you upset<br> ~Reminders of losses<br> ~Even years after a death, holidays can remind you of someone. How can you celebrate them?<br> ~Try to focus on what you have and where you want to go<br> Unique Triggers<br> ~Financial stresses<br> ~Identify free activities<br> ~Make something for someone (crafts, pictures, picture books, slideshows, humor book, digital scrapbook)<br> ~Explore why material posses</p>
