Finding Joy Through Music and Sobriety
This Christmas will be different for singer-songwriter, who is ditching his usual chaotic holiday pattern for something new: festive tunes, a clear head and plenty of hope.
From Darkness to Song
andidat’s journey to releasing his new Christmas single, “December Ghosts,” is filled with storytelling on a deeper level. For many years, the holidays were a blur for him, masking deeper struggles with anxiety and panic attacks.
“Every other Christmas has been quite patchy and a bit of a blur,” he says.
He found temporary relief through alcohol. As years passed, drinking became the solution, not just for anxiety but for everything. His music took a backseat, replaced with the immediate comfort he found at the bottom of a bottle. It came to a point where he couldn’t even muster the strength to get out of bed without a drink.
Pieta House.” src=”/extracted/December_Ghosts.jpg” title=”The charity single has already raised €1,500 for Pieta House.” class=”card-img”/>
December Ghosts has already raised €1,500 for Pieta House.
The song is available now through social media.
Seeking Treatment
He admitted he had sought help before, without lasting results. This time, after waking after a night of heavy drinking in December 2022, he felt a different kind of urgency.
” I was given an ultimatum: either go into treatment or figure things out on his own.
December 4th was his last drink. In January, he entered Tabor Lodge, an alcohol treatment center. There, he uncovered the root of his issues and learned to address his traumas instead of trying to cover them up.
“It was explained to me the ‘why’ of my drinking,” he shares. “It wasn’t that something was wrong with my brain. It was all based on trauma that happened in my childhood. I hadn’t previously dealt with any of this.”
Processing those traumas allowed Trev to gain a new perspective. “It flipped my entire life on its head. My perspective completely changed, and I was able to look at it from a very practical viewpoint.”
He now has tools to manage those anxieties, stating “There’s been scary times, but I’ve learned how to deal with them. Whenever a panic attack feels like it’s coming on, it’s now an opportunity for me to rewire my brain. Once I breathe through it, teaching my brain that everything is fine.
A Sound of Hope
The Christmas single,
This Christmas season, what message of hope would you offer to individuals struggling with addiction, and what advice would you give them for navigating the holidays?
## Finding Joy Through Music and Sobriety: An Interview with [Singer-Songwriter Name]
**Interviewer:** Welcome, [Singer-Songwriter Name]. Your new Christmas single, “December Ghosts,” has a powerful story behind it.
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]:** Thanks for having me. It’s a very personal song, and I’m grateful to be able to share it.
**Interviewer:** The lyrics speak to a struggle with darkness during the holiday season. Can you tell us a bit about that?
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]:** Absolutely. For years, Christmas was tough. Underlying anxiety and panic attacks made it difficult to enjoy the season. Alcohol became my way of coping, a temporary escape from the pain.
**Interviewer:** How did that affect your music?
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]:** It took over everything. My passion for music faded, replaced by this constant need for a drink. It got to the point where I couldn’t function without it.
**Interviewer:** What led you to change?
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]:** It was a gradual realization. I knew I couldn’t keep going like this. Music used to be my outlet, my voice. I wanted that back.
**Interviewer:** And now, this Christmas is different.
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]:** This year is about hope, clarity, and finding joy in the simple things. “December Ghosts” is about facing those difficult memories and finding strength in sobriety.
**Interviewer:** There are many people struggling with addiction around the holidays. Do you have a message for them?
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]:** You’re not alone. There’s help out there, and recovery is possible. Music played a huge role in my journey. I found solace and inspiration in songs that spoke to my struggles.
[If you’re looking for songs that resonate, check out this incredible list: [[1](https://throughtheglassrecovery.com/sober-songs/)]It’s full of powerful tracks that can offer strength and hope.]
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your story, [Singer-Songwriter Name].
**[Singer-Songwriter Name]** My pleasure. I hope my music can help others find their way to a brighter holiday season.
