BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 As the holidays approach, many people feel the pressure of family expectations, financial stress, and emotional triggers. Here in Kern County, recovery experts say this time of year is also when substance abuse often increases.<\/p>\n
For Charity Self, the season brings a mix of memories and caution.<\/p>\n
Self began drinking at 18 and says her addiction escalated quickly.
\u201cI hit the bottle \u2014 and I hit the bottle hard,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Now in her 40s, Self has been sober for a year through Bakersfield Recovery Services. At her worst, she says she was drinking up to two fifths of alcohol a day.
\u201cI didn\u2019t realize I\u2019d become an alcoholic,\u201d she said. \u201cI needed alcohol just to get through normal activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the holidays known to trigger old habits, Self is choosing to spend this season alone \u2014 a decision she says is about self-preservation.
\u201cThe holidays can bring emotional triggers,\u201d she said. \u201cWhether you have family or don\u2019t have family\u2026 you go somewhere and everybody is doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Self relies on coping tools she learned in treatment: setting boundaries, knowing her limits, and practicing self-control.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s not the only one preparing for a difficult season.
Indica Gullo, another resident at Bakersfield Recovery Services, says her addiction started at just 17 with meth.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the time I was 18, I was using needles,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was extreme. I was surrounded by it \u2014 even family members used.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Bakersfield Recovery Services Director Gilbert Laroque, the holidays bring a noticeable surge in people seeking help.
\u201cThroughout the year it\u2019s steady,\u201d he said. \u201cBut during the holiday season we see anywhere from a 30 to 50 percent increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laroque says the rise is often tied to seasonal depression, trauma, family stress, or the desire to start fresh in the new year.<\/p>\n
Mental health professionals recommend several strategies to manage holiday stress and reduce risky behaviors:<\/p>\n
Set realistic expectationsAvoid overcommitting to plansPrioritize sleep, hydration, and exerciseAccept help when offeredMake time for quiet moments or activities that bring joy<\/p>\n
The goal, they say, is to lower stress before it becomes overwhelming.<\/p>\n
As addiction numbers rise during the season, local resources remain available. Bakersfield Recovery Services provides treatment, counseling, and support for those seeking sobriety \u2014 whether for the first time or the fifth.<\/p>\n
If you or someone you know needs help, Bakersfield Recovery Services<\/p>\n
Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 As the holidays approach, many people feel the pressure of family expectations, financial stress,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":90673,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[151,155,153,152,162],"class_list":["post-90672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bakersfield","tag-bakersfield","tag-bakersfield-downtown","tag-bakersfield-headlines","tag-bakersfield-news","tag-kern-county-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}