Family Visits Without the Drama: Safety Planning for Peaceful Gatherings
Episode Overview
Prioritising self-care and recovery is crucial for navigating potentially stressful family visits, especially during the holidays. Creating a safety plan involves setting clear boundaries, attending recovery meetings, and processing triggers on a daily basis. Limiting the duration of family visits and maintaining a private space can help mitigate potential triggers and conflicts. Planning for the worst and hoping for the best empowers individuals to approach family interactions with confidence and resilience. By applying personal strategies and prioritising self-care, individuals can foster healthier family dynamics and create positive memories.
The concept of planning for the worst and hoping for the best has really helped me go into situations where I'm nervous and feel confident. I process triggers before I go in and make sure all my stuff's out of the way. Then I'm prepared for the worst case scenario. So I like to use that with family stuff as well. And then of course, you go in hoping for the best and you try to make great memories.
Family gatherings can be a minefield, especially if you're recovering from violence addiction. In this episode of 'Understanding Violence Addiction', James M. dives into creating a safety plan to navigate these tricky situations. With nearly two decades of personal recovery experience, James offers a treasure trove of practical advice. He emphasizes the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and being prepared for triggers.
This episode is packed with actionable tips to help you approach family visits, particularly during the holidays, with confidence and resilience. James's insights are not just about surviving these encounters but transforming them into opportunities for healthier interactions and positive memories. Whether it's your first sober holiday or another step in your ongoing journey, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to break free from the Drama Triangle and foster lasting peace.