Clinical experience has shown that occasional thoughts of using need to be normalized in therapy. They do not mean the individual will relapse or that they are doing a poor job of recovery. Once a person has experienced addiction, it is impossible to erase the memory. But with good coping skills, a person can learn to let go of thoughts of using quickly.
- Understanding substance use triggers is new for many people in recovery.
- In the depths of substance use, you may have cut yourself off from friends and family, or they may have distanced themselves from you.
- By creating a plan, individuals can identify their triggers and cravings, and develop strategies to manage them.
- For instance, if you’re an alcoholic and a group of drinking buddies ask you to go out, or you see people from work going to happy hour, it might help to have a specific response ready.
- They do not mean the individual will relapse or that they are doing a poor job of recovery.
- If addiction were so easy, people wouldn’t want to quit and wouldn’t have to quit.
Addiction often develops because people use drugs or alcohol to feel better about their current situation. Whether it’s a new and stressful event or a distressing emotional state, substance abuse often turns off feelings of discomfort. In recovery, people don’t have that option and often struggle to accept and process negative feelings. A high-risk situation involves stress that may push a person to want to use drugs or alcohol again. While they are meant to be a reason to gather and celebrate, those in recovery must expend extra energy to ensure they are coping well with gatherings that involve social drinking, for example. Some people have to deal with friends or family members who don’t understand that “just one” or “just for tonight” are damaging and enabling statements that can trigger a relapse.
Identifying Addiction Triggers is Necessary for Recovery
Whenever an emotion, challenge, or stressor overwhelms a person’s ability to cope, there is a risk of relapse. Our relapse prevention program in Orange County is specifically designed to provide education on the different stages of relapse and how to prevent them successfully. We are here to help you maximize your chances of sustaining lasting sobriety. Despite its importance, self-care is one of the most overlooked aspects of recovery.
- Keep a note of your therapist’s phone number, emergency contacts, and a concrete action plan in case you relapse.
- These can help you banish old patterns for good and learn new ways of thinking.
- There are many categories of addiction relapse triggers, and they fall into multiple groups.
- BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.
- When recovering individuals do not develop healthy life skills, the consequence is that they also may be unhappy in life, but that can lead to relapse.
- Addiction is a chronic brain disease with a relapse rate similar to that of other chronic conditions like diabetes.
- Being alone with one’s thoughts for too long can lead to relapse.
Instead, it is a series of stages that can ultimately lead to a person using drugs or drinking again. Understanding the stages of relapse can help you or a loved one prevent relapse. Your sponsor or mentor, sober friends, and supportive family members are available to help you along. This specialized attention can go a long way in helping people in recovery identify their triggers and learn how to prevent further addiction. Emotional triggers are emotional states that can lead to relapse in recovery. These emotional states can range from anger, sadness, and loneliness to boredom or stress.
Strategies for Managing Relapse Triggers
Important milestones such as recovery anniversaries are often seen as reasons to use. Alternatively, once a milestone is reached, individuals feel they have recovered enough that they can determine when types of relapse triggers and how to use safely. It is remarkable how many people have relapsed this way 5, 10, or 15 years after recovery. How honest should a person be without jeopardizing his or her work or relationships?
In mental relapse, there is a war going on inside people’s minds. As individuals go deeper into mental relapse, their cognitive resistance to relapse diminishes and their need for escape increases. I have also included a link to a public service video on relapse prevention that contains many of the ideas in this article and that is freely available to individuals and institutions [5]. The best way to keep your body feeling good and your mind feeling focused is to eat a healthy, nutritious diet. Hydration is another important aspect of nutrition and is vital for everyday health and overall happiness.
What is the Best Addiction Treatment Center in Morris County, NJ?
Everyone will have different internal triggers, but by recognizing some of the common ones you will be better equipped to avoid or address your internal triggers. There are plenty of times when you may get stressed out at work or feel like you’re competing with others. Taking over responsibilities at home and losing a job or a loved one can also take tolls on your mental health. Rather than viewing your relapse as a failure, view it as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you need to do in order to avoid relapsing again. Use it as a chance to renew your commitment to a healthy future and seek out the tools you need to continue in your recovery. Self-talk is a powerful tool and a valuable coping mechanism if you encounter one of your triggers during your daily life.
