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.

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: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