Last Updated:
September 1st, 2025
Every parent out there understands the rush involved with getting the kids back to school. The stress of preparing your child for the new semester can get harder each year, regardless of your living situation.
But for parents in recovery, this time of year has the ability to amplify urges to relapse, pulling at the fabric that holds your recovery journey together.
How does the back-to-school period become such a heavy burden?
For millions of parents, the “back-to-school” period marks the end of summer’s bright and loose schedules and the start of a more demanding daily rhythm. Getting out of holiday mode and into strict timetables and extracurricular planning is like shifting gears on a race circuit.
Early morning school runs and afterschool planning are stressful for any parent, but for those in recovery, the sudden spike in responsibilities and emotional demands can become overwhelming.
Some recurring sources of potential relapse during the back-to-school period include:
- Increased daily stress and time pressures: Between school runs, packing lunchboxes, afterschool classes and keeping up with their own work or household chores, your schedule can easily feel like a tightrope act, leaving almost no time for self-care and proper rest.
- Social comparisons and parental guilt: Arguably, almost no person on the planet is immune to comparing themselves to others, in one form or another. This is no different at the school gates, or on social media, and a parent can have feelings of inadequacy or guilt when they hear how much better another family’s summer holidays may have been.
- Financial strain from school costs: None of the costs of the back-to-school period ever seems to go down. Uniforms, school supplies, class fees and school dinners pile up very quickly, leaving a parent shrouded in added financial pressure and anxiety.
Recognising and addressing your early warning signs
The multitude of stressors of the back-to-school period wreaks havoc on so many parents struggling to remain sober in this busy period. Though many of the warning signs will be highly specific to each struggling person, there may be some recurring signs that, if caught early, may be mitigated as you continue your recovery.
These may include:
Emotional warning signs of relapse
Many of the earliest indicators that a relapse is coming won’t be physical at all. Instead, the shadows of urges and cravings will be felt like an emotional wave. If you’re able to step outside of yourself and observe, as an outsider, you may sense heightened irritability, persistent anxiety, feeling easily overwhelmed, or a sense of detachment from your children or responsibilities. These invisible emotional drivers will most likely tempt you into seeking comfort in old habits, and the urge to relapse grows, like inescapable water that slowly begins to submerge you.
Behavioural shifts to watch out for
There may be behavioural shifts during the back-to-school period that may be a little easier to notice, especially if your partner or loved ones are able to let you know comfortably. Whether you’ve asked them to check or not, they may start seeing shifts in the way you behave and carry out your tasks. Support meetings could slip, they might sense avoidance, or see that you’re neglecting self-care. Even becoming overly involved in work or household tasks might signify that you’re trying to detach from uncomfortable feelings.
Strategies to protect your sobriety as school starts
The return-to-school period, typically from early September onwards, can feel like a storm of demands, each taking more and more of your energy. At times, you may feel depleted of the strength you need to continue forward on your recovery journey.
It will benefit you to strive to be proactive, planning for these draining moments and mentally stabilising yourself as you retain your sobriety.
Focusing on the routine to stabilise yourself
Undoubtedly, the six-week summer holiday is one of the most relaxed and carefree times of the year. Approaching the end of August means that you will need to slowly stabilise yourself into the rhythm of waking up with your child again, preparing them for their day at school and supporting them with afterschool classes or homework.
Take time to focus on the way this routine establishes itself, and try to move with the routine. This only needs to be done slowly, but it must also be done surely. Try developing your own, small routines for meals and sleeping times. Predictability will become a bedrock for resilience and stronger mental health, making it harder for relapse urges to slip in unnoticed.
Reaching out for a stronger support network
When times are getting hard, remember that it isn’t best to carry the load alone. Lean into your current recovery group, or speak openly with loved ones who you know have your best interests at heart. Take time to think of small, practical things that you could ask for help with. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to help with school pickups, homework, or even just to lend a kind, listening ear.
Developing healthier coping mechanisms
For each and every person navigating the winding road of recovery, there will be dark and stressful times. The way you cope with these situations can make or break the recovery process. It is essential to have your tools ready to escape drug or alcohol addiction for life.
With context to your lifestyle, ask yourself if you think you’re doing enough of the following:
- Exercise (moderate amounts, respectful of health conditions)
- Journaling, diary keeping or practising “written gratuity.”
- Mindfulness practices (either alone or with a teacher)
- Hobbies for a physical and/or creative outlet
- Developing a Sober Support Network
As we’ve mentioned, the number of coping mechanisms you have may depend on your lifestyle. There may be times when carrying out one coping mechanism is harder than others, at a demanding moment like on the morning school run. The key is choosing mechanisms that work for and around your schedule. Focus on mechanisms that restore your mental balance when life around you feels like it is depleting it.
Where can I find help for alcohol addiction or other addictions?
You don’t have to face the pressure of this school year or your recovery alone. Call us today and take your first step towards a future where both you and your children thrive, free from the influence of alcohol or drugs.