I’m heading back to where I grew up tomorrow for ten days with the family. It’s a vacation at the beach, but as we all know, family time can be triggering time. I plan to hit up several AA meetings and make sure I’m taking time for myself.

What sorts of techniques, tools, and tricks do you use when on travel or with family?

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Oof. I'm in the same situation next week. There are also some divisive political differences in thr mix. 1) I am preemptively accepting that my family will be imperfect and I can't control them. 2) a temporary disagreement can cause permanent damage. Living by the phrase "no one needs to know what I think" 3) sobriety is first. If I need to excuse myself I'm going to excuse myself. No is a complete sentence and I will do what I need to do. Always having an exit strategy. 4) meetings and calling people.

Keep my cool is the name of the game. Progress for me this year is that I'm not so bothered being around the drinking. I am not tempted or interested. Only if I get triggered and fall into a depressive episode.

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Good list.

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In situations like that, I have to constantly be reminding myself that I am only in control of myself and nobody else. Definitely have a kind of escape route planned if I just need time away from them. Hoping you have a good time, but put yourself first and one day at a time!

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Good reminder to pre-think out escape plans for the evenings.

Do you have a partner or sibling that you could use as an emotional support and accountability partner while you're there? I would try to be open with at least one person who is attending the family trip about what you might need. Even just having someone to make eyes with when someone says something crazy could be really helpful in avoiding a spiral of any kind

My sister is very helpful, though not in any type of recovery. This isn’t my first rodeo for these family beach trips, but just because I survived the past several years doesn’t mean I’m immune to disaster!

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