Holidays are coming is your plan ready?

[gregg70]

With the holidays just 2 weeks away, I wanted to take this time to ask that everyone get the plans in gear.

Some get depressed at the holidays. This could lead to severe slips and even worse. Are you incorporating this into your plan?

Some have to be around family members that stress them out. Are you ready?

Work for some is stressful, shopping is stressful, traveling, you name it.

I just hope that we all have the forethought and honesty to know that the next 2 months will not be normal times in our lives. Even if you do not celebrate these holidays, it will effect you in some way because the majority do celebrate them.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail...

Gregg70

[imtheoneincontrol]

Good idea, Gregg. Holidays seem to affect us in wierd ways, and you never know what that means. I guess for a porn addict, it's pretty obvious what that MIGHT mean. I remember traveling a full 50 minutes over Christmas break (I'm back in school again) just so that I could be alone in my apartment with my porn. I imagine I would have done it even if it was much farther. It's time to stay focused on the demon and the wierd way he lurks around my psyche.

Best,
Itoic

[Al]

I am planning to deal with an influx of my wife's family at Thanksgiving. I am trying not to be sad that my family can't/won't join us too. My plan is to post here, and just try, hour by hour, to be free of porn.

Be well,
Al

[cammy]

LOL I thought you guys were prepping for Christmas! Hope you Americans have a great Thanksgiving! Cammy

[tubaman05]

I thought the same thing, cammy! I was so confused with the whole 2 weeks thing until Al actually said thanksgiving!

But in all seriousness, this is a great idea. This time of year just happens to bring some of the most difficult triggers for many of us. Knowing we'll be tempted makes it that much easier to be prepared and stay clean.

Best of Luck!

TM

[gregg70]

I use to love the holidays when I was young. I could not wait for them and I was saddened to see them go. While I love them for different reasons now that I have children, I sometimes dread them because of all the family olbigations that they bring. My mother is seperated now and this is the first major holiday that she is without her estranged SO. They used to host us for Thanksgiving and she is bummed about it. My sister is having us over and we really need to go to support my mom but it will be crowded, not so clean and full of screaming kids. Stress city. Thank goodness I will not have any triggers and outlets there other than the stress.

Christmas will be harder for me because that is the last time I saw my Father alive back in 2005. I have written alot about him in my journal and I will not go into here but to say that our relationship was not that good. I have dealt with it the best that I know how. I am still in the planning stages for how to deal with any depression from that during the holidays. I am hoping that my journal will come in handy.

Keep up the fight everyone. We can win.

Gregg70

[corvidmortum]

My plan...we in my household have a tendency to not really let ourselves be "Caught up" in the panic of the Holidays. I also begin my Stress/Anger Management classes next week. This, coupled with the fact that I refuse to let the Beast tell me what I need to do, I believe will help me make it through the holidays.

I did have a Major "Oh wow" moment when reading this. Yesterday I went to schedule my appointment with my psychologist they could not get me in until 7 December. This truly isn't too bad in my opinion seeing as how I am not feeling as depressed as I was etc. Upon reading this thread however the comments that the staff made, made much more sense to me. "You realize that if you need to you can go to the emergency room, call us to get a 'no notice appointment, or talk to any church leader etc..." I took me reading this post to realize just how much the Holidays can affect people. I added the above to let people know that any emergency room, help hotline, church, and even some counselors can get you in on short notice. Use these tools and this board in conjunction with a plan to help.

[gregg70]

Corvid thanks for sharing your plan.

What are other's plans for their recovery during the holidays?

Gregg70

[breakingfree]

Thanksgiving is almost upon us.


I am thankful for being clean and sober
I am thankful my marriage is still intact
I am thankful for the love of my wife
I am thankful for the love of my children
I am thankful for the Grace bestowed upon me by God
I am thankful for finding this board
I am thankful for the support I have been given here.
I am thankful for the hope I can turn my life around

bf

[gregg70]

bump back up to top

[zenzx]

holidays are so far kicking my butt. way too much time on my hands and a fresh breakup are making this so difficult. blerg.