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Despite their reputation, the holidays are not always “the most wonderful time of the year” and can be downright difficult for many people. For those in mental health or substance use recovery, especially those in early recovery, this time of the year can present unique challenges. And, because being around family can often be triggering, many in early recovery choose not to attend family celebrations. The ready accessibility of drugs and alcohol, and the social expectations, emotional stressors, and/or exposure to conflict, can be too much of a gamble at a time when sobriety is still new.
On the other hand, spending the holidays on one’s own or apart from family can contribute to feelings of loneliness and a sense of isolation, which can also be mentally challenging and/or a relapse trigger. Alumni Outreach Liaison Charles Johnson, who is in long-term recovery himself, understands what it is like to struggle over the holidays and feel isolated and vulnerable. That is one reason he is passionate about helping our alumni feel connected and supported during this critical time of the year; and, as it turns out, from speaking to Johnson, there are many ways to get plugged in and find connection and support from our alumni Department.
Ways for Alumni to Connect Over the Holidays
There are plenty of ways that alumni can get better connected over the holidays, with the help of Johnson and our alumni team.
Meetings
Meetings are one way. “We offer meetings every week,” Johnson said, and listed these three weekly options:
- The Wednesday evening meeting for alumni in substance use recovery is in person, but out-of-town alumni can also join via Zoom. The usual format involves dinner and a guest speaker. Past speakers have included Johnson and other Alumni Department members, but often we feature outside guest speakers. Those who have achieved their one-year anniversary in sobriety are presented with a medallion as public recognition of their progress in recovery.
- The Friday evening meeting for alumni of Shatterproof FHE Health is for our first responder alumni and is accessible via Zoom. Participants discuss a wide range of mental health and substance use topics that uniquely affect first responders and their families.
- The Tuesday evening meeting for our mental health/dual diagnosis alumni, also on Zoom, provides opportunities to share one’s struggles, listen to others with similar challenges, exchange tips, insights, and experiences, and be reminded that you’re not alone in whatever you may be going through.
Each of the above meetings is led and facilitated by one or more Alumni Department staff.
Regular Check-Ins
The Alumni Department makes a point of regularly check in on our alumni via texts and calls. Johnson described the routine this way:
After their first two days after discharge, we check up on alumni just to see how they’re doing, because they’re going back into the world and that transition can be overwhelming. After that first call, we continue to call our alumni monthly for the first several months, and as they progress through their first year of recovery, we remain in touch — then we keep in regular contact after the first year, transitioning to annually after two years.
Alumni can also reach out any time with a need or concern and have the assurance that someone from the Alumni Department will be back in touch quickly:
If alumni need to chat about anything, they can always reach a member of the alumni team using our dedicated alumni phone number. That alumni phone is always on and an open line of communication.
Our alumni outreach liaisons strive to offer the same level of accessibility over the holidays. The one exception might be if you are experiencing a mental health emergency, in which case dial “911” “988” or go to your nearest emergency room. Johnson explained that the alumni cellphone “is not an emergency hotline” but we can help alumni connect to resources such as therapists or social services in their area, among other needs.
Fun Social Events and Service Offerings
The Alumni Department plans at least one social activity per month, from bowling, dodgeball, and game nights to deep sea fishing, glassblowing, and the rapid water park.
Service is another important component of recovery, especially over the holidays. Alumni at FHE Health have an opportunity to take part in one organized service activity per month. Examples have included the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) walk, serving meals at drop-in centers, volunteering with local organizations like SOS Children’s Village, Boca Helping Hands, and picking up trash on the local beaches.
“There’s always a way to stay connected,” Johnson said.
Over the holidays, special care is made to organize fun, festive, and meaningful get-togethers. This year, alumni are going ice skating — the Alumni Department has rented out the rink for the night — and they’ll be taking a trip to the Everglades for some air boating and alligator shows. The Alumni Department also hosted a toy drive.
Holiday-Specific Resources for Alumni
Here Johnson mentioned the Alumni newsletter as a free monthly resource that alumni can receive via email. The newsletter addresses holiday-specific themes in wellness and recovery with articles that provide coping strategies and tips for managing issues like stress, loneliness, or other triggers. The newsletter is also a great way to stay informed about upcoming alumni events and opportunities, Johnson said.
In addition to the newsletter, the Alumni Department has an active presence on Facebook and Instagram, where alumni can connect, converse, and network. Our Facebook and Instagram pages can also enable alumni, whether local or in another state, to find one another and meet up. And they also provide a free daily text message to help alumni set a positive intention for the day — especially helpful during the hustle and bustle of the season.
Alumni Supports for Recovery
Peer Support Referrals
Peer support and “buddy systems” can be a vital source of support and encouragement. This is another area where the Alumni Department is a resource, both over the holidays and throughout the year.
“We try to connect alumni with other alumni, and if they need sponsors, we always try to make those connections,” Johnson said. “We also provide referrals to peer support groups like Southern Florida Wellness Network and Unity Recovery.”
Alumni Supports for Recovery
Peer support referrals and alumni networking are just some of the ways that the alumni team comes alongside former patients to support their wellness and recovery. When Johnson calls alumni to touch base and see how they’re doing, if they are struggling in a particular area, “we’ll do the research for them if they’re in need of particular resources … whatever they’re going through, we’re going to try to make a way to make the situation better.”
“Those who are staying connected with the alumni network, even if they’re out of state, they’re doing well,” Johnson added.
“A lot of people go through depression and isolation over the holidays,” Johnson said. “We’re giving them coping skills, meetings, a phone number — we’re going to try to do our best to make sure they’re ok.”
The holidays can be hard for many people, not just those in recovery. Knowing there is support in place and others who understand what you’re going through can be a source of comfort. Johnson, speaking from personal experience, had this concluding advice:
With me, I always surrounded myself with people who were doing the exact same thing as me. You need a good circle. Recovery is as much a “we” program as it is a “me” program. I could not have been successful in sobriety without other people who were committed to the same goal.
The same principle is key to surviving the holidays and even thriving at this time of year.
If you’re struggling over the holidays, you’re not alone. We’re here to help. Reach out anytime.
