The Devil’s Triangle and Holiday Relapse
Dec 08, 2025
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The stretch from Thanksgiving to New Year’s can feel like walking through fog with hidden cliffs—no wonder many in recovery call it the “devil’s triangle.” Holiday triggers spike, old roles creep back in, and nostalgia distorts the past. But this season isn’t a trap. With a portable program—meetings, sponsor contact, step work, service, and spiritual practice—you can bring stability into unstable moments.
Selective memory is one of the biggest risks. We romanticize chaos and forget the pain that came with it. Recovery offers a better approach: don’t regret the past or shut the door on it. Use it as a teacher. A simple filter helps—does this thought make you more or less likely to stay sober?
Preparation always beats willpower. Before gatherings or travel, stack meetings, call your sponsor, and set a basic daily plan. Have exit strategies, know where meetings are, and build small grounding rituals—five deep breaths, a quick call, a mantra, or a warm drink—to reset when emotions spike.
If you’re hosting, lead with clear boundaries. Early in sobriety? Keep it a dry event. Feeling stable? If guests bring alcohol, decide how it’s handled and send leftovers home. Hold firm lines on drugs, especially around kids, and address any issues calmly.
Some holiday moments will be hard—quiet, raw, or lonely. Let them be simple. Eat, breathe, call someone, and get to a meeting. Marathon meetings often feel like lighthouses during tough seasons. You end the day sober, and that’s a miracle.
Recovery grows one honest day at a time. Joy returns not because triggers vanish, but because you’re equipped to walk through them.
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