Your colleague’s bad Irish accent might not be the most menacing thing about St. Patrick’s Day. It is also an opportunity for many individuals to have a great time binge drinking in an atmosphere that encourages, and often demands it. Holidays like this can be extremely tough on those who are in addiction recovery and doing alcohol detoxification at home. Those who want to remain sober on St. Patrick’s Day may be posed with the dilemma of turning away friends and skipping another holiday or taking one day off from recovery to have a good time and feel included.
Most St. Patrick’s Day celebrations include the use of alcoholic beverages or even banned substances. One may feel pressured to join in on the festivities or fear that they will miss out on a good time. However, there are several ways to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day without consuming alcohol and other harmful drugs.
Understanding the consequences of binge drinking will help you and others around you make healthy choices this St. Patrick’s Day.
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Feelings of Alienation
In a world where drinking and drugs are often a social lubricant or norm, holidays can be extremely focused on alcohol. And St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most alcohol focused celebrations throughout the world. This can leave people on their journey of sobriety feeling very alone. They can’t join in on the celebrations like everyone else. No one can understand how vulnerable and out of place they feel. It certainly doesn’t help that recovering from addiction can be a socially isolating experience on its own anyway.
Feeling alienated from everyone else who’s drinking and having a good time can make it harder to resist alcohol. Sometimes friends can even make the sober person in the group feel like they’re being a downer and However, drinking is not all there is to St. Patrick’s Day. It is an Irish cultural festival that celebrates one of Ireland’s patron saints, who lived in the 5th century.
One may also commemorate this holiday with other parts of Irish culture such as food, literature, music, and artistic works.
Consider holding your own sober St. Patrick’s Day party or virtual get-together if you appreciate a nice celebration but don’t want to expose yourself to a harmful environment that jeopardises your sobriety.
Alcohol Advertisements
Alcohol sales on St. Pat’s day skyrocket as drinking turns into the spirit of the holiday. It is understandable for those in recovery to take the day off and indulge in self-care by themselves. But turning the TV on means constant reminders of what you’re missing out on. There are seldom any considerations made for those trying to remain sober when planning to advertise for the holiday.
Because of these arguably inconsiderate ads, someone who is trying not to drink may end up being tempted. This way leads to binge drinking in an environment where there’s no one around to support you or help prevent your relapse.
Social Media & Social Pressure
News, discounts at pubs, memes, pictures, and stories on social platforms are common around St. Patrick’s Day. Alcohol brands utilise social media quite a bit to reach their customers, specially in this day and age. Alcohol marketing is so poorly regulated across social media that it often targets the most vulnerable members of society like teenagers or those in recovery. All of this comes together to create a social pressure to post about wild celebrations you’re partaking in, enjoying St. Patrick’s day to the fullest. This always includes binge drinking green coloured cocktails and partying with friends.
But it is important to remember that having a good time doesn’t always look like loud parties and shots. It can look like a quiet time at home watching your favourite movie too!
There is no need to impress others with something that could hurt you. Recovering from addiction means reclaiming your life and that should mean that you celebrate in sustainable ways that don’t pose a threat to your health and safety.
Office Celebrations
St Patrick’s day cannot be considered St Patrick’s day without extravagant celebrations that even some offices can join in on. One may feel pressured to show up to an office party to satiate the higher management. But if you feel like it may make you vulnerable to a relapse, declining the invitation to a party is much better for you.
If you’re a private person, it is also easier to say no to the party than to explain why you’re not indulging in the free alcohol during office celebrations.
Summary
The dangers of St. Patrick’s celebrations for those in recovery means not everyone will have a good time afterwards.
#1 Make sure parties are about more than drinking games so those abstaining don’t suffer from feelings of alienation.
#2 If staying in, be mindful to consume content that is regulated to be free of alcohol commercials.
#3 Purging your social media can alleviate you of the unhealthy social pressures that come with St. Pat’s day without having to forfeit the holiday altogether.
#4 Communicate to employers and colleagues to keep working days free of triggers even on celebrations.
There are many ways to ensure you steer clear of drinking activities around the holidays. Having a good time can also look like you taking care of yourself and staying away from anything that might hinder your recovery.
Also read: Fancy Party Outfit Ideas That will Make You Shine for The Holidays
