Happy New Year! We’re counting down the blog posts that resonated most with our readers in 2024.

The holidays can be a time of love and celebration, but they can also present unique challenges for individuals in recovery and their families. With thoughtfulness and preparation, families can create an environment that supports their loved one’s recovery journey. This blog explores how to foster a recovery-friendly holiday, offer meaningful gifts, recognize triggers, and navigate conversations about recovery.

We’re often reminded of what the holidays “are supposed” to be–all about family. But for some, those reminders feel like an insult, a stark contrast to personal reality. What if, for instance, you think that your family is the very thing that threatens your mental stability and teeters your emotional balancing act? If your family dynamic is more fraught than festive, it’s okay to recognize that your holidays don’t need to mirror anyone else’s.

The holiday season, with its focus on joy and togetherness, can be incredibly challenging for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Feelings of sadness, longing, and guilt can make it difficult to engage in celebrations fully. However, healing and hope are possible, even amid grief. This blog offers support, strategies, and resources to help you navigate this tender time.

This season can be a time of celebration, gratitude, and renewed hope for individuals in recovery and their loved ones. Let’s explore how recovery transforms the holidays and provides a foundation for a brighter future.

The holiday season often brings families together, but for families navigating the challenges of substance use recovery, it can also highlight areas of healing and growth. This toolkit is designed to help families create meaningful connections, support each other’s recovery journeys, and build a foundation for lasting healing.

Giving Tuesday: Every Dollar’s Purpose in Supporting Recovery

This Giving Tuesday, WakeUp Carolina invites you to join us in transforming lives and fostering hope. Each dollar donated to our mission directly fuels recovery programs, resources, and support services that make a real difference for individuals and families impacted by substance use.

While holiday triggers can be formidable, they can be managed with the right strategies and support.

We explore various creative ideas for making festive decorations that individuals in recovery can create themselves or with their loved ones, and the therapeutic benefits of crafting to enhance the holiday spirit.

We explore the power of heartfelt letters and how individuals in recovery can use this practice to spread hope, positivity, and support within the recovery community during the holiday season.