Entering Rehab During the Holiday Season: What to Expect

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Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

The holiday season brings about many joys and moments that should be celebrated, but for someone dealing with substance abuse and addiction, the holidays can have a whole different meaning. For any individual who is struggling with an addiction, the holiday season can be especially triggering in multiple ways.

There are often emotional triggers that can intensity urges to use, such as estrangement from loved ones and family members, or even underlying issues, such as depression and anxiety. Whatever the reason, the holidays can be a difficult time for the individual who already has a preexisting addiction to drugs or alcohol.

There may never seem like an ideal time to enter rehab for an addiction, however, simply postponing your need to receive help and treatment due to the holiday season will not benefit you in any way. It may appear to be a terribly inconvenient time for all who are involved, including family members and loved ones, or perhaps you find yourself procrastinating from the inevitable and using the holidays as guise for such.

Whatever your reasoning may be, it is crucial to understand that recovery and treatment, including rehabilitation and detoxing from substance abuse and addiction should not be put off for any reason.

If you have been considering rehab for your addiction, be sure to seek out the help you need any way you can. It can be easy to reason that there may be a better time, but the best time to get help and treatment is now.

Father And Teenage Son Having A HugDo not allow yourself to fall into the mindset of thinking “I can do it later”, or “After I get past this season, I will get into treatment.” The scary aspect of addiction is that you have no guaranteed days, and your life is literally hanging by a thread when in the midst of an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Especially during the holiday season, there is a plethora of help and resources available to individuals who are dealing with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Reach out to a professional or addictions specialist who can help you find the necessary treatment that is most appropriate for you and begin the process of rehab today. Your life depends on it!

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

If you have been in rehab for an addiction to drugs or alcohol during the holiday season, what was this experience like for you? What encouragement might you share with others who are currently undergoing a similar situation?


Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.


The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addictions. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Addiction Hope understand that addictions result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 24, 2015
Published on AddictionHope.com