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A simple holiday safety plan can also bring grounding during an unpredictable season. For those in sex addiction recovery, this may mean identifying high risk moments like travel, downtime, or stress filled gatherings, and intentionally scheduling recovery practices such as meetings, accountability check ins, or journaling. For partners healing from betrayal trauma, a safety plan may include identifying likely emotional triggers, choosing grounding tools, and determining which events feel supportive and which do not. This can also include choosing to spend time with safe family members and intentionally avoiding family members who feel unsafe or destabilizing to your recovery.
A holiday safety plan may include:
• Identifying likely stressors or triggers
• Scheduling recovery check ins or meetings
• Setting boundaries for gatherings or conversations
• Choosing safe family members to be around
• Creating distance from unsafe family members
• Listing grounding practices for emotional regulation
• Reaching out to trusted support people in advance
A safety plan will not eliminate triggers, but it gives you direction and steadiness when emotions rise.
Communication is also essential this time of year. Holiday stress can amplify misunderstandings, making conversations feel heavier or more fragile. Consider using a “pause and return” approach. This means taking a break when emotions escalate and agreeing to revisit the conversation once both partners feel regulated. This protects emotional safety and helps prevent conflict from spiraling.
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