How to Handle Holiday Stress

In this solo episode, I’m talking honestly about why the season can be so tender and how you can step into it with intention instead of fear. Whether you’re brand new to recovery or, like me, many years into this journey, the holidays still require care. The gifts and gatherings can be beautiful, but they can also be loud reminders of the people we were, the pain we walked through, or the coping skills we no longer use.I share some of the practices that helped me in those early years and still carry me today.Here’s a glimpse of what we cover:• Awareness is your first line of defenseKnowing what might be challenging doesn’t make you weak. It makes you wise. Those honest check ins can save you from walking into December unprepared and overwhelmed.• Movement matters more than we thinkNot the move states kind of movement, the move your body kind. A walk outside. A few minutes of stretching. A break from screens. These small rhythms can shift your mood and your mindset.• Your nervous system needs care tooI share the breathing pattern I return to again and again when I feel that tightness build. It’s simple, calming, and you can use it anywhere, even if it means hiding in the bathroom for two minutes to reset.• You don’t have to white knuckle family gatheringsIf you’re walking into a space filled with old triggers, memories, or relational tension, you are allowed to have a plan. A sober buddy. A phone a friend moment. An exit strategy. Or the freedom to say no entirely.• Service pulls us out of the spiralIf you feel stuck in your head, reach out. Call someone. Check on a friend. Volunteer. Do something that reminds you that you are needed and connected. Service shifts the story we tell ourselves.There’s no award for muscling through a holiday you dread. There’s no shame in creating new traditions or protecting your peace. You get to choose what’s right for your recovery this year. You get to honor the progress you’ve made.So, wherever this season finds you, hopeful, tender, overwhelmed, excited, or a mix of everything, I hope this conversation meets you with compassion and gives you a few tools you can lean on.Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, was released Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here. Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com