On a beautiful Thursday night, Scott Jeffries and Adam Jablin are doing what they love to do these days: hanging out and relaxing on the back patio of Jeffries’ Lake Worth Beach home. met in 2006. “Sixteen years ago I was a 39-year-old crackhead, addicted to heroin,” Jeffries said. “Drinking and drugs were my escape,” Jablin said. an artist, and Jablin is a life coach. But both of them still remember very clearly how difficult the holidays can be. “Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years are like the Bermuda Triangle for people like us,” Jablin said. Your Neighborhood: Local coverage of WPBF 25 News That’s because the holidays can mean more parties and more opportunities for an addict to relapse. , right?” Jeffries said. “Because sometimes people think the holidays are one thing. But really, it’s a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. It’s just a day of the week.” Mental health counselor Veronica Lichtenstein said that’s what she tells her clients. “I would say the biggest thing that happens during this time is stress,” Lichtenstein said. Stress related to finances and social obligations, she says. Lichtenstein said it’s key to remember that all holidays are just another day and you have to take care of yourself. “Also, don’t be afraid to say no,” she said. “If you’re invited to something that you know will be a trigger for you, give yourself permission to say no. Lichtenstein said most importantly, have a plan. in advance how they are going to get out of it from one day to the next. Jeffries and Jablin said that’s how they survived. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Jeffries said. “Know your limits. Know your limits. “You have to find that person, especially right now, that you can tell anything to,” Jablin said. ” It’s essential. » If you need to speak to someone for any reason, the 211 helpline is always available.
On a beautiful Thursday night, Scott Jeffries and Adam Jablin are doing what they love to do these days: hanging out and relaxing on the back patio of Jeffries’ Lake Worth Beach home.
It’s a far cry from where the two friends were when they met in 2006.
“Sixteen years ago I was a 39-year-old crackhead, addicted to heroin,” Jeffries said.
“Alcohol and drugs were my escape,” Jablin said.
Jeffries and Jablin have now been sober for 16 years.
Jeffries is an artist and Jablin is a life coach.
But both of them still remember very clearly how difficult the holidays can be.
“Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years are like the Bermuda Triangle for people like us,” Jablin said.
Your neighbourhood : Local coverage of WPBF 25 News
This is because the holidays can mean more parties and more opportunities for an addict to relapse.
Or, it may mean more time feeling lonely, perhaps missing the people who were in your life.
“That’s a lot of self-imposed pressure, isn’t it?” said Jeffries. “Because sometimes people think vacations are one thing. But in reality, it’s a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. It’s only one day of the week. »
Mental health counselor Veronica Lichtenstein said that’s what she tells her clients.
“I would say the biggest thing that happens during this time is stress,” Lichtenstein said.
Stress related to finances and social obligations, she said.
Lichtenstein said it’s key to remember that all holidays are just another day and you have to take care of yourself.
“Also, don’t be afraid to say no,” she says. “If you’re invited to something that you know will be a trigger for you, give yourself permission to say no.”
Lichtenstein said most important, have a plan.
Around the country: National coverage of WPBF 25 News
She said people need to know in advance how they will fare from day to day.
Jeffries and Jablin said that was how they survived.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Jeffries said. “Know your limits. Know your limits.
“You have to find that person, especially right now, that you can tell anything to,” Jablin said. “It is essential.”
If you need to speak to someone for any reason, the 211 helpline is always available.
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