Traveling often exposes you to various triggers and can confront you with temptation. Recovery can open up new possibilities and opportunities, especially while traveling. Let your newfound sobriety enhance your experiences and travel plans. If you or a loved one need help reaching recovery, help is available. Contact the Recovery VIllage to learn about evidence-based treatment plans that treat the whole person, so you can find lasting healing.
- Enjoy the summer weather as you embark on this journey to a healthier, more balanced you.
- Don’t ask for the drink menu at the restaurant and seek out places where you can enjoy the scenery or live entertainment after your meal while drinking juice or mocktails.
- With the right kind of planning and foresight, you can have a truly sober vacation without risking your sobriety due to triggers.
- Set aside money and buy yourself a gift when you come back home without using alcohol or drugs.
Hold the Tequila. The Sunrise Is All Some Travelers Need.
By choosing activities and destinations that support a healthy, balanced lifestyle, such as a hike, beach trips, or outdoor sports, you can find the right balance between well-being and routine. Think about possible triggers that may arise during your vacation. Crossword puzzles, a page-turner of a book, adult coloring books, listing to music, and guided meditations are some useful tools many people in recovery find helpful.
Strategies for Overcoming Social Pressures and Triggers
Having support when you’re away from your home base is important, and even if you’re traveling with loved ones, it’s good to have other people in recovery who can help you if you’re feeling tempted. Once you know where your vacation is taking you, scope out at least one recovery group that you can join at a moment’s notice if necessary. Your vacation and rest are important – but your sobriety is even more important.
How Alcohol Addiction Starts: Causes and Early Signs
However, thanks to more people interested in alcohol-free vacation plans, there are a lot more companies offering sober services. Most people look forward to taking time off their busy life and work schedules to kick back and relax https://ecosoberhouse.com/ at an exciting destination. Vacations let you explore new places, indulge in your favorite hobbies and get some much-needed pampering. However, many people view vacations as an opportunity to be intoxicated around the clock.
If you are traveling with other people, choose traveling companions who are supportive of your recovery. Ask specific people back home if they would be willing to respond to a phone call, text, or email at any time of day or night if you need to reach out. Travel Sober also provides travel experiences for individuals in 12-step recovery programs, including their families and friends. Travel Sober offers lots of options—from domestic and international cruises to African safaris—fit for a range of budgets. Mayflower Recovery in Wilmington, MA has created the premier state-of-the-art detox and inpatient addiction treatment facility in New England.
- If you’re a Workit member, you can log into your usual recovery groups from the road (just keep in mind any time zone changes), and you can reach out to your care team through the app.
- The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- There are even destinations such as Ocean City, New Jersey that are known as ‘dry towns,’ where the sale of alcohol is prohibited.
- Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s away from potential triggers and giving you new and interesting things to participate in.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say ‘No’
RCA’s inpatient and outpatient locations are as close as Devon and Malvern, PA and Mays Landing, NJ. RCA has locations in North Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Chicagoland. The Alumni Association at Recovery Centers of America hosts virtual meetings 7 days a week, multiple times a day. These meetings are not only for RCA alumni, but are open to family, friends or anyone in the recovery community. With support just a few clicks away, there is no reason you can’t get to a meeting while on vacation and check in with your peers. Spending time outdoors, in nature, is great for boosting mental health, learning new skills, and staying healthy.
Remember, you can call 24/7 if you need help
During your trip, you’ll likely encounter many situations where alcohol and other drugs are used freely. Planning ahead will help you craft ways to avoid places and situations where you have to battle with yourself to remain sober. Being away from home vacationing in recovery or in an environment where you’re surrounded by people who don’t speak your language can be intimidating. Some drugs lower inhibitions, giving you the courage to ask strangers for recommendations, make requests to improve your trip and make friends.
If all goes as planned, you’ll rewrite your vacation history with new memories, and joys you did not expect. A vacation is supposed to be a retreat from the daily grind but that grind is what comforts you and helps you stay structured, through temptation. Don’t forget to celebrate your hard work and commitment, even on vacation. Treat yourself to non-triggering rewards to commemorate your trip. You may also want to research the local cuisine and specialties.
Practicing gratitude involves recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of your life while on the trip. This mindset can shift your focus from what you’re missing to what you have. By being mindful of both emotional and physical risks, you can transform challenges into opportunities for personal growth and memorable, substance-free experiences. Slipping back into drinking can lead to emotional turmoil and physical setbacks, jeopardizing your hard-earned sobriety. All-inclusive means food, drinks, activities and entertainment are included in the cost of your trip.
What If I Can’t Avoid Triggers?
This guide provides practical advice and inspiration to help you enjoy your vacation while maintaining your sobriety. Finding the right support is crucial for anyone’s journey to well-being, especially for those in recovery from substance use disorders or struggling with substance abuse. Riverside Recovery of Tampa provides personalized care, a support network, and year-round sober summer activities to ensure the best outcomes of success on your journey. Also, talk to your travel companions about the kind of support you would like from them. You can ask them to remind you of your commitment to recovery, to help you get to your planned meetings, to meditate or exercise with you, or to help you get back to the hotel if you’re feeling triggered.