Don Smith, Phillip Valentine, Sandy Valentine, Melvin Cabrera
rebecca@ccar.us (CCAR)
Struggling to Stay Sober During the Holidays? This Hotline Helps
Struggling to Stay Sober During the Holidays? This Hotline Helps
Struggling to Stay Sober During the Holidays? This Hotline Helps
Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Explore how the Sober Holiday Hotline offers peer support to those struggling with sobriety during the festive season.
12 minutes
Supportive
Inspiring
Encouraging
Informative
Honest
About this podcast
Author:
Don Smith, Phillip Valentine, Sandy Valentine, Melvin Cabrera
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery Reimagined
Empowering Recovery Journeys
Family Recovery from Addiction
Creative Recovery Journeys
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
210 (View all)
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!Finding Strength: The Sober Holiday Hotline Story
Episode Overview
- The Sober Holiday Hotline offers anonymous peer-to-peer support.
- It's designed to help people stay sober during challenging holiday times.
- Volunteers provide practical tips based on lived experiences.
- The hotline is not affiliated with rehabs or 12-step programs.
- Anonymity and honest connection are key components.
"At the end of the day, if we can help an individual go to sleep sober, then we've done our job."
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety during the festive season? Derek Benson, host of the 'Investing in Sobriety' podcast, shares his innovative solution: the Sober Holiday Hotline. This episode of Recovery Matters! Podcast tackles the unique challenges faced by those in recovery or sober curious individuals during the holidays.
Benson, drawing from his own 11-year recovery journey, identified a gap in peer-to-peer support and created a hotline that offers anonymous, real-time support from those with lived experience. The hotline isn't tied to any rehabs or 12-step programs. Instead, it offers practical advice and a listening ear from volunteers who understand the pressures of holiday gatherings.
Whether it's about keeping a non-alcoholic drink in hand or simply sharing feelings with someone who gets it, the hotline is there to help callers stay sober for another night. Benson emphasises the importance of anonymity and connection, explaining that sometimes it's easier to be honest with a stranger than with friends who might still be part of one's drinking circle.
The hotline is seasonal, operating during the holidays when temptations are high, but its message of support and community is timeless. For anyone struggling through the festive season, this episode offers insights into how a simple call can provide the support needed to maintain sobriety. So, why not reach out and see how this peer-based network can make a difference? Remember, you're not alone on this journey.