The BALM Blog
See all postsTips for the Holiday Season!
The winter holiday season is upon us. Traditionally seen as a time of light and joy, for all too many families impacted by addiction and mental health challenges, holiday time is a time of pain and darkness.
In BALM, families learn to strengthen themselves with inner peace, gratitude and hope in order to retain the holiday spirit for themselves and those around them.
If you are facing the challenges the holidays can bring to families impacted by addiction, here are a few tips to help you get through the next few weeks with peace and joy, regardless of the situation you are facing.
Tip #1
Have a breathing practice that you use regularly.
- In the BALM, families often use 4-4-8 (breathe in to the count of 4, hold your breath to the count of 4, breathe out to the count of 8).
- Do 4-4-8 for five minutes in the morning, five minutes at noon and five minutes as you are drifting off to sleep.
- This practice provides an inner sense of calm every time you do it. It is normal breathing, not heavy.
- When you do it regularly, it will become your default, so you will find yourself going to it when someone says something upsetting to you.
- At crisis moments, simply do a few rounds of 4-4-8 to bring yourself back to a sense of calm. As a result, you will be able to think more clearly and handle whatever comes your way
Tip #2
Keep A Gratitude Journal
- To start, just make a list of five things you are grateful for each morning.
- If you get upset, look back at your list and add five more.
- End the day with five more to raise your attitude.
- As hard as it can seem in the beginning, focusing on what you are grateful for can make all of the difference in your perspective on life.
Tip #3
Make a list of all the beautiful things about your struggling loved one, and all of your happiest memories with them and about them.
- Do this before the holiday
- Keep it with you and refer to it whenever you are feeling upset about them and what you fear they may be doing.
- Everytime you see them over the holiday, look deeply into their eyes, past their current behaviors, and see those good memories you have about them.
- Allow yourself to become immersed in a vision of them that is stronger than their troubles and let that vision come to the fore when you interact.
- See how that helps you enjoy their company more.
- Share those happy memories with them and listen for theirs.
- See how your relationship improves and creates new memories even in difficult times.
For help with these and other tips, join the BALM throughout the holiday season at our Free Holiday Support Calls …
Please join us on Zoom as often as you want to take some time for yourself, get a little extra support, and learn how to Be A Loving Mirror in your family!
- A grief group for families dealing with loss
- Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. ET Sign up HERE
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Happy Chanukah and Merry Christmas everyone!
Enjoy this festive season and may it bring healing to you and your family members.
Love,
The BALM Family