15/12/2025
🎄 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆🎄
💬 𝘈 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘈𝘚𝘕 – 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬
For many family members, Christmas can be one of the most emotionally demanding times of the year when addiction is part of the family 💔
✨ There is something often referred to as the Christmas phenomenon in addiction. This is when the magic of Christmas can make us believe that this year will be different.
🌟 That our loved one might finally change.
🕊️ That things will settle.
💭 That the pain will ease.
💛 It is okay to think like this.
💛 It is okay to hope.
💛 It is okay to believe.
At the same time, it’s important to gently remind yourself that when someone is in active addiction, things often stay exactly the same — especially if no support or treatment is in place. This is not because you didn’t try hard enough or care enough 🤍
🎄 Please remember, YOU have the right to a good Christmas.
🚫 You do not have to allow addictive behaviours to dictate how your Christmas goes.
This Christmas, FASN encourages you to focus on you, your wellbeing, and what you need 🌿
🌿 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 🌿
🎯 Adjust Your Expectations
Hope is human, but unrealistic expectations can lead to deep disappointment. Adjusting expectations is not giving up — it is self-protection 🛡️
🧭 Manage Yourself, Not Them
You cannot manage:
❌ Their mood
❌ Their behaviour
❌ Their reactions
You can manage:
✔️ Your responses
✔️ Your choices
✔️ Your boundaries
Focus on what is within your control 🤲
🧘 Disengage From the Drama
You do not have to engage in arguments, emotional chaos, or repeated explanations. Stepping back is not abandonment — it is self-preservation 🌬️
⏸️ Take Time-Outs
It is okay to:
🚪 Step outside
🛋️ Go to another room
⏰ Leave earlier than planned
Time-outs help regulate you and reduce emotional overwhelm 💆♀️
🕊️ Release the Need to Control or Fix
You are not responsible for:
🚫 Preventing substance use or relapse
🚫 Managing their emotions
🚫 Holding everything together
Let go of the belief that it is your job to fix things.
Their choices are theirs 🌱
📝 Practice Ahead of Time
Think in advance about:
🔹 What you will tolerate
🔹 What you will not
🔹 What you will say if things become uncomfortable
Helpful phrases might include:
🗣️ “I’m not engaging in this.”
🗣️ “I need to take a break now.”
🧱 Focus on Your Limits and Boundaries
Boundaries are not punishments.
They are acts of self-respect and self-care 💚
You don’t need to justify them.
You don’t need permission.
You only need to honour them.
🤝 Find Positive Ways to Connect (If Possible)
Connection does not mean fixing or rescuing.
It might look like:
☕ A short conversation
🎲 A shared activity
🌤️ A moment of calm
And if connection is not safe or possible — that is okay too 💛
🌸 Do Things You Enjoy
Your joy matters.
Make space for:
🚶 A walk
📖 Quiet time
🤍 A supportive person
🕯️ Something that brings comfort or peace
👀 Be Mindful of Hypervigilance
Constantly scanning the room, watching moods, and anticipating tension is exhausting 😞
You cannot:
❌ Manage their mood
❌ Prevent the moment everything shifts
You can:
🌬️ Notice when your body is holding stress
🧠 Gently bring your attention back to yourself
🚶 Choose to step away
💛 A Final Word From FASN 💛
Be gentle with yourself this Christmas 🤍
Focus on what you can control:
✔️ Your actions
✔️ Your thoughts
✔️ Your boundaries
You are allowed to:
🛑 Withdraw if you need to
🚫 Stop taking responsibility for someone else’s choices
🕊️ Protect your peace
✨𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 — 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱✨
𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗡 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: (𝟬𝟴𝟳) 𝟵𝟬𝟰 𝟲𝟰𝟬𝟱.
