It’s not uncommon for those who are in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction to be triggered, feel anxious or just a bit bothered when holidays come around. This can be especially true for holidays that are associated with alcohol or drug use, like Halloween. When holidays like this approach it’s important to have a plan of what you’ll do should you be triggered, as well as a plan for how to participate without falling back into old unhealthy habits. The good news is there’s a ton of ways to have sober healthy fun on October 31st!
Check out the ideas below for some super fun alternatives for an unforgettable Halloween:
1. Have a Netflix Scary Movie Marathon
This option is great because you are able to get into all the spookiness of Halloween without leaving your couch, in your comfiest pajamas of course! Invite some friends over, get whatever candy is left at the grocery store, pop some popcorn and put on the scariest ghost movie you can find. Some great horror flick options include “Hush”, “The Conjuring”, and the new viral Netflix original series “The Haunting of Hill House”.
2. Have a Jack-O-Lantern Carving Battle
Do you have a competitive spirit? This is the perfect Halloween activity for you! Have your friends bring over a pumpkin and get to carving. Having images printed out for stencils can be helpful for some or you can get wild and freehand a design! When everyone is done, put a tealight candle inside, turn off the lights and let the judging commence. Have everyone write down vote for who’s pumpkin they think won or take to social media to have the public weigh in. Whatever you do, get creative and have fun!
3. Go to a Super Scary Haunted House
If you’re not feeling like staying indoors and really want to get your adrenaline pumping, take a trip to your local haunted house, hayride, or corn maze. A couple tips: dress as warm as possible and try to get there when they open for the evening, lines will be long for Halloween night!
Check out the website below to see where all the haunted attraction are in your area.
4. Attend a Halloween Parade
Most towns have a free of charge, super fun parade Halloween evening. The best part is that you can usually dress up in a costume and participate in the parade yourself! You can also come as you are, hot chocolate in hand, and look at all the unique, hilarious, and creepy costumes pass by.
5. Volunteer
An awesome way to help out your community this Halloween is to find a local shelter, church, or community event that you can volunteer at for the evening. Whether you’re helping serve dinner, passing out candy to little kids, or decorating for a holiday party, you’ll be sure to end the night feeling fulfilled. This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and even make some new friends.
6. Host a Halloween Bonfire
Halloween is hands down the best time for bonfires. You and your friends can cozy up outside around a firepit with blankets and hot apple cider. Roast marshmallows and make smores while going around in a circle telling scary ghost stories that will probably give you nightmares. Host the bonfire at your place or a local campground, if you’re feeling adventurous.
Author: Danielle Morales – Footprints to Recovery
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