How to get through capitalist, colonial holidays in recovery

We're often told in recovery that we have to survive Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. In this episode, host Carolyn Collado (they/them) reflects on why the holiday season can be challenging for those on a recovery journey. They talk about the colonial root of these holidays, the family dynamics that might harm us, the struggles around pressure to drink and use other substances, or the grief and trauma of the impact other peoples struggles around drinking and other substances. They explore perfectionism and the pressure to be perfect during the holidays, struggles with eating, weight, bodily autonomy, differing covid boundaries, and religious trauma. They offer reflection on what you might want to do for the holidays, and harm reductionist ideas around substance consumption, boundary setting, and strategies to navigate these holidays. Purchase the ⁠Recovering Under Racial Capitalism Journal ebook⁠  ⁠⁠https://recovery-for-the-revolution.ck.page/products/recovering-under-racial-capi⁠⁠ Subscribe to our ⁠Patreon⁠ $3 from everyone viewing would help make this work sustainable! ⁠⁠http://patreon.com/recoveryfortherevolution⁠⁠ Support the Shaheen family https://chuffed.org/project/hodafund?https://chuffed.org/project/hodafund Book a ⁠1:1 Decolonizing Recovery Coaching Session with Me⁠  ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/recoveryfortherevolution/decolonizing-recovery-coaching⁠⁠ Sign up for the Unsettling Recovery waitlist ⁠ https://forms.gle/wNVG1KJu4PdZw4zU7 :00 - Intro 01:32 -  the holidays as colonial propaganda  06:24 - Family Impact during the holidays  10:22 pressure around our relationship with food 14:28 - the holidays and expectations to drink and use other substances  16:22 - the holidays and the pressure to be perfect 17:34 - boundaries and body autonomy with family  19:41 - Navigating Covid boundaries with family  20:36 - Family and religious trauma 22:34- Grieving having different values from family and ongoing unaliving in Palestine  27:14 - how to decide how to navigate the holidays 31:26 - harm reduction in navigating the holidays 36:11 - boundary setting with family over the holidays 36:41 - holding gentleness with family impact on us during the holidays 39:58 - gathering with community to navigate the holidays