Thoughtful Ways to Celebrate a Loved One in Recovery
Let’s face it: Giving gifts can be difficult no matter what. When they are in recovery from addiction it gets all the more difficult. A nice bottle of wine is out, as are other options like concert tickets that might trigger someone, at least in early recovery.
So how do you give the perfect gift for a recovering alcoholic or addict in your life? What are the best gifts for a recovering alcoholic or addict anyway?
When I first entered recovery, I had a lot of peer and family support. The people I met through South Shores Detox and Recovery became lifelong friends and a constant presence throughout my recovery. And because I got sober just before Christmas, the ideas of gifts to give my new friends (and what went on my wish list that year) proved helpful in writing this resource.
I hope you get inspired by my own experience, and keep reading to find out more about choosing the right gifts for your loved one in recovery.
How Can You Support Someone In Recovery?
Drug or alcohol addiction is a tricky thing to help someone get through. Recovery is a very personal process, though it does require the support of others. If you aren’t sure of what to do to help someone who is newly sober, simply being a shoulder to cry on can be enough. The act of listening goes a long way as well.
A successful recovery is only possible if you are ready for it, and willing to put in the work. Self-care is a must. So how can you make it fun without being triggering? How can you let loose a little bit without worrying about slipping up? A great gift idea is the key. Looking for gift ideas for someone in recovery? Continue reading to see what’s appropriate and what isn’t.
Giving The Perfect Gift To A Recovering Addict
During my early addiction recovery, my family wasn’t sure what to do with me. They were supportive and helpful, but they didn’t understand the struggles that I was experiencing. Feeling lonely during this period is completely normal, especially during the holiday season. I felt somewhat detached from everything else that was going on.
I tried to avoid people who were drinking too much. There were triggers all over the place. Despite the difficulties associated with the holidays, I tried to make the best of it. I wasn’t expecting much, as I felt I had emotionally drained my family. I tried to stay in the background and not make the festivities about me and my sobriety.
Does The Perfect Gift Exist?
Let’s be honest. If you spend all your time trying to think of great gift ideas, you may be causing more stress than you need to. Sometimes all someone needs is warmth and love thrown their way. My family did a great job of making me feel welcome and not overwhelming me. They could see I was vulnerable.
The best gift I got through this particular holiday season was a collection of daily affirmation cards. My younger cousin got it for me, and I was blown away by their thoughtfulness. It was a simple stack of cards with encouraging words for each day. I still have them and have given the same gift to others who are newly sober.
Being in recovery leaves you feeling a little bit off during the early stages, or at least it did for me. You don’t always feel like yourself. My sister-in-law knew this very well as someone who struggled with substance use in the past. She gave me a beautiful recovery journal with various prompts in it that helped me view my progress during my early days of sobriety.
How Do You Know If You Have A Great Gift Idea?
Great ideas for gifts are subjective. You may think you’ve come up with the best gift possible, even if the person receiving the gift doesn’t give you the reaction you’re hoping for. I try to keep this in mind when I am giving sobriety gifts. If it is meaningful to me, and I know the person well enough, then that should be enough.
People in recovery are simply looking for thoughtfulness from those around them. The most important thing is to remember to give the gift of kindness. That is the best gift possible. Material items are secondary to human connection. This is something I try to share through my time in support groups and AA meetings.
Gift Ideas For Those In Recovery
There are a lot of options when it comes to giving a good gift to someone in recovery. A quick internet search for ‘sobriety gift ideas’ will give you a good place to start. Recovery journals, bracelets, sobriety coins, and personalized gifts like custom jewelry are some of the most common sobriety gift ideas. If you want to get creative, you can give them something that will promote their physical and mental health.
When a good friend of mine got newly sober, I paid for a spa day for him followed by a healthy meal. For another friend in recovery, I gave them a book on mindfulness techniques. Anything that can promote a positive mental attitude and physical health is helpful.
When you are newly sober, it’s easy for your mind to get away from you. Anxiety and depression are common among people who are new to recovery. Any gift that will help promote wellness can be a godsend for someone who has just begun their recovery journey. A few examples of that would be a gym membership, exercise equipment, or even just a cookbook with healthy meal ideas.
Being Helpful Toward A Recovering Loved One
Anything you can do to make a recovering addict feel loved and appreciated goes a long way. It doesn’t always have to be a gift. Kindness and encouragement is an incredible gift to someone in recovery. For the first few months of my sobriety, I had a very good friend send me encouraging text messages every day. I saved all of them and I still refer to them all these years later.
Another wonderful gift can simply be telling someone how much you appreciate acts like that. I made it a point to tell this friend how much those text messages meant to me when I was struggling to stay clean. Every person who has ever shown me any level of kindness has been a part of why I am clean today, and I have made sure to let them know that.
Hope is the fear killer. A lot of addicts deal with a level of fear that is hard to shake. Am I going to keep this going? What will it take for me to slip up? If I relapse, will I ever get clean again? Why do some addicts relapse when things are good?
An idle mind can be a difficult thing to deal with. Routine and keeping yourself busy is vital to continuing your recovery journey.
The Shared Experience Of Drug Or Alcohol Use
When you become sober and engage in the recovery community, you find many like-minded individuals. It makes me feel less alone to know that I have so many people around me who have gone through what I have. This past summer, I paid for a road trip for me and a few other people I met through recovery. It was the least I could do after all the help they had given me.
I look for any opportunity to give little gifts to my peers, as well as those I meet who are newly sober. We all have a shared experience that makes our bond much stronger. These people have been a great source of comfort, and they’ve given me some great sobriety gifts over the years as well.
Inspire Others With Creative Gifts
It’s easy to buy someone a gift, but creating your own gift for someone goes the extra mile. I was recently gifted a memory book from a loved one and it’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever gotten. It’s a collection of photos, letters, and affirmations that encompass our entire relationship. The creativity behind this gift is what got me the most choked up.
Give the Gift of Recovery to Your Loved One at South Shores
Whether you are buying a gift or creating one of your own for someone, just the fact that you are being thoughtful is enough for an addict. Thoughtfulness goes a long way for someone who needs that in their life.
Through my experience at South Shores Recovery, I am now part of a recovery community that is the most caring group of individuals I have ever met. You can achieve this for your loved one by showing them the beautiful facilities and helping them get the support they need and deserve.