Sober Thanksgiving

• Fear of judgment or shame: It’s common to believe that “I’ll just wait until after the holidays,” or “I’ll hide it and try again later.”
• Desire to maintain tradition: We might think “I’ll keep up the holiday façade until New Year’s” and hope we’ll fix things by then.
• Avoiding disruption: Starting treatment means stepping away from familiar patterns, which can feel disruptive or scary.
• Minimizing costs or logistics: People often tell themselves “Let me just finish this season, then I’ll deal with it.”

But in truth, hiding often postpones the hardest moments, and even increases risk. The data is clear: the holidays bring elevated stress and substance use triggers.

According to the American Psychological Association, 38% of people surveyed reported increased stress during the holidays, and the prevalence of alcohol consumption tends to spike.¹

In contrast, choosing healing now means leaning into support, structure, and transformation. This way, you can work hard toward making this a truly sober Thanksgiving, for both yourself and your family.

Five Reasons to Choose Healing Now Rather Than Hiding

It can be difficult to take that first step toward healing after substance use disorder, but it’s so worth it. Here are some reasons to start your journey toward a healthy holiday season and sober Thanksgiving:

1. Holidays Increase Risk – Treatment Reduces It

Research shows that the holiday season is a high-risk time for relapse, heightened alcohol consumption, and emotional triggers. According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the added stress of social obligations, travel, family dynamics, and financial pressure can increase vulnerability to relapse.²

Moreover, one report notes that relapse rates can spike as much as 150% during holiday months compared to someone’s baseline.³

If the holiday is already a challenging environment, entering treatment means shielding yourself with professional care, community support, and a safe structure rather than navigating danger alone.

2. Treatment During Thanksgiving Ensures You Don’t “Wait and Risk”

Many tell themselves: “I’ll wait until after the holiday,” or “I just need to finish this season.” Yet studies show that addictions are progressive, waiting increases risk, and entering treatment early improves outcomes.

Choosing treatment now means you don’t push your recovery to the back burner—you front-load hope.

3. You’ll Gain Structure When You Need It Most

Thanksgiving and the holidays break routines, blur boundaries, and increase emotional volatility. According to the Harvard Medical School Health website, many in recovery find the holidays uniquely stressful because of freely flowing alcohol, emotional triggers from family, and shattered structure.⁴

Treatment gives you the structure, coping skills, peer connection, and professional support you need at a time when you may otherwise feel alone or at risk. Healing isn’t about hiding – it’s about rebuilding strong foundations for a sober Thanksgiving or for the rest of the holiday season.

4. Entering Care Now Builds a Foundation for Lasting Happiness

Imagine celebrating next year and not simply “making it through.” Articles on treatment during the holidays show that beginning care during this time can offer an early momentum boost.

For example, a piece on the benefits of spending the holidays in rehab notes that entering care near year-end sets you up for a healthier new year.⁵

So if your goal is a sober Thanksgiving – not just day-to-day survival but meaningful recovery – choosing treatment now gives you a head start.

5. Your Loved Ones Are Waiting On You—Healing Is a Gift

Your presence, stability, and engagement during the holiday season means everything to family and friends. By choosing healing over hiding, you give yourself, and them, the gift of honesty, presence, and a healthier future.

Cenikor’s mission of behavioral health for all means your family (chosen family included!) is respected, involved, and supported, not overlooked. When you enter care now, you step into a holistic process that rebuilds connection rather than delays it.

What Treatment With Cenikor Looks Like This Holiday

When you reach out to Cenikor, waiting doesn’t mean putting recovery on hold; it means beginning the process of healing. Every call, every conversation, and every moment of readiness represents a step toward a life grounded in health, purpose, and lasting change.

Cenikor’s programs meet you where you are, helping you move from crisis to stability with compassion and structure.

Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Care

Your treatment plan is built around your unique needs, combining clinical excellence with proven therapeutic models.

Depending on your situation and where you’re located, care may include:

• Medically Supervised Detoxification: This helps you safely and comfortably manage withdrawal under expert medical guidance.
• Inpatient Residential Treatment: This offers 24/7 care in a structured environment focused on recovery, peer support, and personal growth.
• Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP/VIOP): This allows you to continue therapy and group support while maintaining work, school, or family responsibilities.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): This treatment is for opioid and alcohol use disorders, and it is integrated with behavioral therapy and counseling to support both mind and body.

This Thanksgiving, choosing healing with Cenikor means you won’t hide your story this year – you’ll start the healing chapter. And you’ll be surrounded by people, purpose, evidence-based treatment, and hope.

Ongoing Support Beyond Treatment

Recovery doesn’t end when you leave a Cenikor program – it grows stronger. Through aftercare, Recovery Support Services (RSS), and alumni programs, you’ll remain connected to a community that understands and uplifts you.

Cenikor’s continuing care services ensure that you have the accountability, encouragement, and structure needed to maintain long-term recovery.

Choosing a Sober Thanksgiving

This sober Thanksgiving, choosing Cenikor means choosing connection, clarity, and courage. You don’t have to hide your story or face your struggles alone.

Instead, you’ll begin a new chapter surrounded by people who believe in your ability to heal, guided by evidence-based treatment and inspired by real hope. At Cenikor, every moment of readiness is the start of renewal.

Building a Foundation for Lasting Recovery

At Cenikor, we understand that effective addiction treatment requires addressing the complex behaviors, emotions, and thought patterns that contribute to substance use. That’s why we offer a range of evidence-based therapies designed to support each client’s unique recovery journey.

These therapies provide practical skills, emotional healing, and renewed motivation to build a sustainable, fulfilling life in recovery.

Some treatment modalities we may integrate into your healing plan for a sober Thanksgiving include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is a cornerstone of our clinical approach. CBT helps clients identify and change the negative thoughts and behaviors that often drive substance use. Through CBT, individuals learn to recognize triggers, challenge harmful beliefs, and develop healthier coping strategies.

This therapy is highly effective for managing cravings, reducing relapse risk, and improving overall emotional health, all of which can provide integral recovery tips for a sober Thanksgiving.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT focuses on emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. DBT equips clients with skills to manage intense emotions, navigate difficult relationships, and tolerate discomfort without resorting to substance use.

This is especially helpful for those with co-occurring mental health conditions, as DBT fosters resilience and mindfulness.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

This is integral to Cenikor’s treatment philosophy. MI is a collaborative, client-centered approach that helps individuals explore and resolve ambivalence about change. Through empathetic dialogue, clients find their own reasons and motivation for pursuing recovery.

This technique respects each person’s autonomy and empowers them to commit to lasting change on their own terms.

Group Counseling and Peer Support

This is where clients gain connection and accountability through shared experiences. Groups cover a variety of topics, including relapse prevention, stress management, and building healthy relationships, reinforcing what is learned in individual therapy.

Beyond psychotherapy, Cenikor offers education on life skills, relapse prevention, and wellness to equip clients with tools for real-world success. From managing finances to developing communication skills, these practical lessons strengthen independence and confidence.

By combining these evidence-based treatments with compassionate care, Cenikor helps clients not only overcome addiction but also reclaim purpose, health, and hope for the future during this sober Thanksgiving season.

How to Prepare Your First Step Toward a Sober Thanksgiving

Taking the first step can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are practical actions you can take to choose healing over hiding this season:

• Make the call today: Whether you’re curious or ready, reach out. Ask questions, and learn about your options and insurance coverage so you’re fully prepared for what a sober Thanksgiving might look like.
• Choose honest reflection: Write a sentence like: “This year, I choose healing, presence, and repair instead of avoidance.” Place it where you’ll see it daily.
• Identify the “why.”: Ask yourself: “What do I want for myself for a sober Thanksgiving?” Let that answer guide your decision now.
• Bring someone with you: A trusted friend or family member can support you through admissions, treatment decisions, and follow-through.
• Plan logistics: Insurance, travel, work arrangements – don’t wait. The sooner you explore, the smoother the entry.
• Prepare your support network: Let your trusted contacts know you’re choosing recovery now, and then ask for their encouragement, check-ins, or accountability.
• Celebrate your choice: Whether you begin treatment or commit to a sober path now, mark the moment: you’re choosing authenticity and healing.

Our team at Cenikor can help you prepare every step of the way for a sober Thanksgiving and broader holiday season.

Your Sober Thanksgiving Can Be The Start of a New Story

This year, a sober Thanksgiving doesn’t mean simply “getting through” the holiday. Now, it can mean stepping into lasting healing and recovery.

When you choose treatment now, you’re not hiding from the holiday, you’re choosing freedom from it. You’re choosing a life of clarity, connection and sustained recovery instead of momentary avoidance.

Cenikor stands ready beside you. Whether you’re nearing the end of the year, looking for a change, or ready to begin something new – our doors are open. Our team is prepared, our programs are welcoming, and your journey is valid.

This sober Thanksgiving, and every day after, let your story be one of transformation, not hiding. Let your presence, your recovery and your community be the greatest part of your holiday celebration.

If You or a Loved One Needs Support

Wherever you are in your healing journey, Cenikor is here to meet you. From medically-supervised detox and residential treatment to outpatient programs, recovery housing, and alumni-supported care, our integrated continuum of care is designed to meet you at every stage.

With nearly six decades of service, Cenikor continues to provide behavioral health for all, offering hope, healing, and community across Texas and New Mexico.

Make this a sober Thanksgiving rooted in presence, choice, and renewed purpose. Celebrate with connection – not concealment. Celebrate with Cenikor.

 

Resources:

1. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress
2. https://www.uab.edu/news/health-medicine/can-holiday-stress-trigger-substance-abuse-uab-experts-weigh-in
3. https://www.ideastream.org/health/2024-12-31/holiday-stress-can-be-triggering-for-people-with-addiction-heres-how-to-manage-the-stress
4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/navigating-holidays-recovery-2017121412931
5. https://familylifecenter.com/benefits-of-spending-holiday-in-treatment/?utm_source