If you're newly sober or striving for recovery, a drink or drug can seem even more tempting during the holiday season. In terms of triggers, there exist internal and external triggers, both contributing to relapse. External triggers are from outside sources, reminders of one’s drug or alcohol use. Internal triggers come from within; uncomfortable emotions such as fear, anxiety, and depression that lead people to want to self medicate with a drink or a drug. So how do you cope with triggers and stay sober during these winter months?

People care for themselves in all sorts of different ways. The “healthy” ways that we often talk about such as yoga, meditation, and getting enough sleep are usually a slow burn. But what about the unorthodox methods people turn to for immediate gratification?

After a stressful day of work, many unwind with a stiff drink. Have a fight with your partner? A joint could take the edge off. Out partying and feeling socially awkward? No surer way to bond with your fellow partygoers than to share a line or two of coke. The short-term effects of alcohol and other substances can be euphoric; if they weren’t, you wouldn’t be using them. Although you may feel better in the moment, used in excess, these do more harm than good long-term. This article will focus on what to do if you find that you’re using substances and alcohol in a way that is not healthy and steps to take if you want to cut back or quit entirely.