Ask the Expert

Finally……its here….Summer!!!

Don’t get me wrong. I love all of our seasons here in western Pennsylvania, but there’s just something about summer. Yard work, planting flowers, planting the garden, opening the pool, boating, playing with the dogs outside, going on vacation, hanging out with friends and family. All of it is rewarding and ultimately relaxing. So how could summer be a bad thing?

Well, for folks in recovery, summer has potential relapse triggers that can either creep up on you, or hit you like a ton of bricks. Just like all relapse triggers, some are obvious, others more subtle. However, you’ve got to be looking out for all of them in order to protect your sobriety this summer.

So, lets discuss a few of them:

First, how about the alcohol kiosks and beer sections in the grocery stores? You can be triggered before you make it through the produce section. They are right there, as soon as you walk in the door. This is just stupid. But, you can’t fix stupid, so think about this before you decide to make an innocent trip to the grocery store. Take someone with you, or better yet, go to a store without alcohol. Just don’t be caught off guard.

Many of us experience allergies, hayfever, etc..during the summer months. Be careful if you decide to try over the counter medications for this. Many contain stimulant or stimulant-like medications that can ultimately lead to cravings and relapse. Even if stimulants weren’t your drug of choice, the feeling you get from certain cold and allergy medications can lead to relapse.

Summer is a time to relax and enjoy! We go on vacations, or day trips. Maybe, a day at the pool or boating. All to relax. However, relaxing can lead to complacency and complacency can lead to relapse. Keep working your program!

Heat is a problem. Heat leads to thirst, and thirst needs quenched. Drink lots of water. Aside from keeping you hydrated, it helps you to feel full, and when you feel full, cravings can be easier to manage.

Parties, picnics and other gatherings can just be a disaster waiting to happen. Most summer gatherings include alcohol. Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day celebrations, graduation parties, cook-outs, etc…have all been excuses for most of us to drink or use other drugs. But, there are other triggers here as well. Being around friends and family can be extremely stressful especially if you will be pressured to use, or when those relationships are strained. And in your active addiction, I’m sure some of your behaviors strained relationships with people you care about. Celebrations are not the time to make amends or to try and test out your recovery skills. Beware of self-pity too. Feeling like you aren’t joining in on the celebration because you don’t use. Well, when you’re feeling bad about not joining in, don’t forget about all of the crap that happened when you did. Start listing the consequences and be grateful that today, you can go home feeling good about yourself and tomorrow morning you won’t wake up in shame. Bottom line is if you’re not feeling good about it and don’t have a safety plan in place…don’t go. Doesn’t matter who gets mad or upset. Just don’t go. If you do go, have a safety plan and a safe person with you. Don’t go alone. You never know what triggers may happen when you least expect it. For example, if you go to a party where there are teenagers or young adults, you may feel prepared to deal with the alcohol, but you may be totally unprepared for the hookah. What’s a hookah, some of you may ask? It’s a bong. They can call it whatever they want. But a bong, is a bong by any name. The only difference is that they just smoke flavored tobacco in it. However, with tobacco names like “Fakhfakhina”, “Al-Waha”, and “Surfer on Acid”,….I’m thinkin’ somebody was high….Seriously though, I was at a picnic recently when they started smoking this stuff. I immediately was transported back to high school and college. It brought up a flood of memories. I was taken totally off guard. Then I came back to reality, and realized that I am now 30 years older and several sizes bigger than in those memories so I went home…….feeling really crappy about the whole experience!

So, even though you need to be cautious, enjoy the blessing of summer, always putting the blessing of your recovery first. Have gratitude for your recovery the minute you wake up on a beautiful summer day, and show that gratitude by giving back. And, while you’re sitting outside on those warm summer evenings, spend a few minutes alone with your higher power and have gratitude that your sobriety has allowed you to see all the blessings that this sober day has brought you.

Holly Martin
M.A., CCDP Dpl
Chief Operating Officer