Here are some tips to prevent holiday stress and maintain sobriety that can be put in practice by all.

Reach out. If you feel lonely or isolated, seek out community or other social events or communities. Many may have websites, online support groups, social media sites or virtual events. They can offer support and companionship.

Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year, don’t set unrealistic expectations of yourself or others.

Set aside differences. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all of your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion.

Learn to say no. Don’t feel pressured into giving time, effort or money that will cause stress. When it comes to sobriety, make sure your not caving to peer pressure, bring your own non alcoholic beverages.

Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt.

Take a breather/don’t forget self care. Take a break by yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Caring for yourself will give you the reserves to manage both holiday stress and drinking urges, and let you bring your best self to your family gatherings.

Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, triggered to use and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP!

Find a Mental Health or Substance Use provider/ program with IMMEDIATE availability at Search – Fast Tracker (fasttrackermn.org)

DHS seeks input on online search tools for finding mental health and substance use disorder treatment

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking stakeholders to complete an online survey by Jan. 20, 2023, to improve currently existing online tools that direct individuals to mental health and substance use disorder services.

The survey gives stakeholders an opportunity to identify what tools are currently being used and what improvements could be made to those tools.

Also included in the survey are questions regarding the culturally specific functionality of these online tools and how that can be improved. The responses will be used to determine how to direct funding related to these online tools and any potential new tools.

Instructions for navigating this web-based survey:

Click the RESET button to reset answers on the current page in the survey.
Click the SUBMIT button on the last page to submit your completed survey to DHS.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Tue, Jan 24: Exercise and Eating Disorders: Helping Clients Return to Healthy Engagement with Exercise – Free Online Webinar -1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST

See you all next year!

If you have any news or announcements you would like added to the FastTrackerMN.org Newsletter, please Email us:

Samantha with Substance Use Programs – Samantha@FastTrackerMN.org and
Jessica with Mental Health – Jessica@FastTrackerMN.org

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