Many of us get stressed out before and during the holiday season although for some people struggling with addiction, it can be even more challenging. Addiction is a relapsing illness which means that people can return to substance abuse at any stage after completing rehab treatment, even several years later. Relapse is often triggered by stressful situations highlighted in addiction therapy as being a person’s individual stressors.

For many people overcoming substance abuse, the holiday season is often an anxious time as they adjust to life without drugs or alcohol. It is not uncommon for someone leaving rehab to feel that they will become boring without using substances, rendering their social lives non-existent. However, as many people in recovery report, these fears are unfounded. There are plenty of activities you can take up without alcohol or drugs involved. Let’s take a look at a few.

There are many reasons why a person becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol. Very often, the reasons lay in stressful situations and circumstances such as family conflicts, financial problems or health concerns. One of the most important aspects of rehabilitation treatment is to prepare people for a long-term recovery. Let’s take a closer look at how stress management can help protect an individual’s sobriety in recovery.