It can be hard to celebrate sober for many people, especially teens. For teens or families working through substance abuse treatment, it’s essential to find ways to mark milestones and holidays and have fun without drugs or alcohol. Here are some great tips for planning sober celebrations for the whole family. If your teen is struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery. Our holistic programs for adolescent boys can help you plan sober celebrations for every occasion. Call us at 866.300.5275 or visit us online for more information on our substance abuse treatment programs.
Recognizing the Need for Sober Celebrations
Today’s teens live out their social lives at school and on social media. This can lead to mysterious lifestyles that they feel that their parents won’t understand. Unfortunately, it can also make it easy for teens to hide substance abuse from loved ones. While teenagers can be temperamental and change their behavior from day to day, these are some signs they might be struggling with substance abuse:
- Loss of interest in activities
- Short-term memory loss
- Change in physical health
- Changes in sleep habits
- A sudden need for money
- Neglecting responsibilities at home, school, work
- Depression or anxiety
Today’s teens live under a lot of pressure. Social anxiety, academic stress, family life, and world events can lead teens to struggle with depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring disorders. Many may use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism and a way to disconnect from the stress of daily life. In a substance abuse treatment program, teens will learn the value of sober celebrations, giving families the opportunity to reframe holidays and events for long-term sobriety.
Support Your Teen with Sober Celebrations
Staying sober and modeling sober behavior is the best way to support your teen. For some families, it isn’t easy to give up wine with dinner or after-work beers. Alcohol is a huge part of social life and celebrations, so it’s hard to shift to sober celebrations. Here are some great ways to celebrate sobriety with the whole family:
- Attend sober events – Local sober events can help you plan your own with great food, mocktails, and family-friendly activities.
- Create new traditions – Work as a family to find alternative ways to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and events without alcohol. This might be an excellent opportunity to create new recipes or spend an alcohol budget on another aspect of a celebration.
- Collaborate with others – Working with another family or neighbors on a sober celebration can promote connection, communication, and sobriety.
- Go out of town – Planning smaller celebrations out of town can provide the opportunity to create new traditions, break old habits, and focus on experiences rather than substances.
Modeling sobriety can be a fun way to reconnect and co-create new traditions. By planning celebrations together, your teen has the opportunity to make decisions and follow through with planning unique celebrations the whole family will love.
Get Help Planning Sober Celebrations from Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
If you suspect your teenager is struggling with substance abuse, know they are not alone. The team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery is here to help you and your teen recover. Our holistic addiction treatment programs for adolescent boys treat addiction and dual disorders. In beautiful North Carolina, programs include equine-assisted therapy to help teens engage in the natural world and regain control of their lives. Our extensive family therapy program can help you reconnect with your teen and find sober ways to celebrate any occasion. Reach our friendly staff at 866.300.5275 to learn more about our addiction treatment programs and get started today.
