Addiction recovery during the holidays gave my family a path back to connection, stability, and hope. The holidays used to be a painful time in my life. While others celebrated warmth, family, and togetherness, I often felt only emptiness, shame, and regret. Addiction had stripped me of everything meaningful — my stability, my relationships, and even my sense of self-worth. I was lost, without a home or my children, and overwhelmed by guilt for the pain I caused those who loved me most.
Family gatherings filled with laughter became reminders of how far I had fallen. The season of giving no longer felt like a time of joy; it was a time that magnified my brokenness. But in my darkest hour, I made one life-changing decision: I reached out for help. That decision became the turning point that transformed my life and marked the beginning of my journey toward healing and hope during the holidays.
Today, I’m proud to say I have over four years of continuous sobriety. My life reflects grace, perseverance, and second chances. I now serve as the Outreach Coordinating Manager at Foundations to Freedom, a role that allows me to support others on their path to recovery while also rebuilding my own life with purpose. I supervise an incredible team, mentor women in early recovery, and work every day to bring hope into the community that helped me.
Through my participation in a 12-Step recovery fellowship, I’ve learned accountability, humility, and the true meaning of service. I sponsor others who are walking the same road I traveled, helping them rediscover their strength and worth. In April 2025, I bought my first home, and I’ll graduate this spring from Daytona State College with an associate’s degree. Every step of this journey reminds me that redemption is real.
The holiday season now holds a different meaning for me. I see it as a time of reflection, gratitude, and renewed faith. I also know how difficult this time can be for parents and families affected by addiction. The financial strain, emotional stress, and longing to reconnect can feel overwhelming. I want anyone reading this to know you are not alone. I’ve been where you are, and there is hope.
If you are exploring addiction recovery during the holidays, you are not alone. What helped me rebuild my life was surrounding myself with people in long-term recovery, women and men who taught me that healing takes time and consistency. Sponsoring others turned my pain into purpose. I began creating new holiday traditions centered on gratitude rather than material things — moments like cooking with friends in recovery or volunteering to serve families in need. I took on leadership roles within my fellowship, learning financial responsibility and self-respect through service.
I also learned to rebuild stability step by step. I paid off old debts, returned to school, and worked toward becoming a homeowner. These milestones didn’t happen overnight; they were built on small, daily choices to do better and be better. Most importantly, I reunited with my family and children, not through words alone, but through consistent action, honesty, and love.
If you’re reading this and facing the holidays in pain or uncertainty, I want to share this truth: the greatest gift you can give your family this year is hope. Plan sober gatherings and focus on holiday relapse prevention. Create traditions that celebrate connection and healing. If you’re worried about someone struggling, reach out now: recovery doesn’t have to wait for the new year. Change can start today, and there are countless resources for family addiction support available to guide you.
This holiday season, I’m choosing to celebrate not what I’ve lost, but what I’ve gained: peace, family, purpose, and freedom. My story is living proof that recovery works.
At Foundations to Freedom, we believe in second chances. We witness lives transform every single day, parents reuniting with their children, families finding peace, and individuals rediscovering who they are meant to be.
Because no matter where you are right now, your story isn’t over: and the best chapters might still be ahead.
Related resources:
- Read our holiday recovery story, From Addiction to Holiday Joy.
- Try gentle mindfulness during the holidays practices to reduce stress.
Recent Comments