The holiday season can be tricky for anyone, due to financial stress, complicated family dynamics, feelings of loneliness, and more. Factor in managing an addiction and its triggers, and it’s understandable how you can become overwhelmed — and how your substance abuse can quickly spiral.

You may think that putting off rehab until after the hustle and bustle of the season could be easier, but the reality is, it’s often best to seek treatment before the holidays so you can avoid or better deal with the associated stressors.

Here are some of the main reasons to start addiction treatment before the holidays:

HOLIDAYS CAN BE TRIGGERING, IN MORE WAYS THAN YOU THINK

The time around the holidays can be filled with addiction triggers — and situations that enable your substance use. Maybe family drama unearths past traumas; maybe holiday shopping strains your finances and insecurities; or maybe the festivities of drinking and other substance use are a recipe for trouble. Whatever the reason, it’s best to be prepared with the skills you learn from rehabilitation to help you avoid these triggers or cope when they arise.

YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THE TIME

If your job offers paid time off, getting in before the holiday season is in full swing may be the best time for you to seek treatment. To avoid scheduling conflicts — both with pre-planned holiday events you’re expected at, and with coworkers needing time off — it’s best to reach out for treatment as soon as possible. That way, you can cash in your vacation days and ensure that you aren’t trying to manage treatment and addiction amidst the craziness of the holidays.

MAXIMIZE YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS

If you plan on using your health insurance to help cover the cost of addiction rehab, the most cost-effective decision you can make is to utilize your benefits before the end of the year. Time is truly of the essence, because once the new year begins, your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum will reset. To make sure you use any benefits you earned and paid for, it’s best to schedule a treatment consultation as soon as possible so we can work with you to make the most of them.

A FRESH START FOR THE NEW YEAR

Starting the year off on the right foot doesn’t mean you have to wait until January 1st to get there, especially when you consider the path you need to take to find lasting recovery. By entering an addiction treatment facility before the holidays, you can push through some of the early, more challenging aspects of the recovery process, such as detox. By the time the new year begins, you’ll feel more prepared — mentally, physically, and emotionally — to start rebuilding a happier and more meaningful life in recovery.

SOONER IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN LATER

While getting treatment for your addiction can seem daunting, if you’re even considering getting help now, that’s a good indication that it’s the right time. You may be waiting for a sign, or for things to reach some breaking point, but we can tell you firsthand that it’s all too easy to move the goalposts. The best time for you to go to rehab is as soon as it’s at the top of your mind — because you are ready and worthy of the benefits treatment provides.

GET THE HELP YOU NEED TODAY

No matter what comes your way at the end of this year, you’ll have the full support of our compassionate staff and multifaceted programs, like drug and alcohol detox, residential inpatient program, dual diagnosis treatment, trauma-focused EMDR, and more.

We’re ready to prepare you for the stressors of the holiday season at Feeny Babies so you can enjoy it in healthier, happier sobriety. Don’t wait to get help: now is the perfect time to start treatment and successful recovery, so call our caring team today!