Learning to cope with the stresses of daily living without turning to alcohol or drugs is not easy for someone who has repeatedly used these substances. After months or years of chemical dependency, the brain must relearn how to live a sober lifestyle. Having a relapse prevention plan during recovery is essential for staying sober. Relapse prevention programs can be offered internal and external triggers during and after addiction treatment. Additionally, feeling connected and supported gives individuals access to resources such as treatment programs or support group activities that can help them avoid addictive behaviors. For those living in remote areas, numerous online recovery communities are available for individuals to access the necessary social support they need.
- These warnings originated in online forums for survivors of sexual trauma, where individuals would warn other readers about the upcoming content.
- A professional assessment or counseling by a therapist or addiction specialist is important in understanding addiction triggers.
- Alternatively, it might require using strategies such as diverting your attention, reaching out for help, or engaging in mindfulness exercises when confronted with a potential trigger.
- If you experienced trauma or live with anxiety or a substance use disorder, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support.
- Other triggers are more overt, like seeing a specific landmark or recalling a traumatic event.
- Specialists often recommend “thought stopping” strategies, the development of refusal skills, and the avoidance of high-risk situations.
Importance of a relapse prevention plan in recovery
This can be a valuable practice on days when nothing seems to be going right. If you don’t already have a trusted therapist, you may want to meet with several before finding one you feel comfortable with who meets your needs. Therapy tends to take time, so having patience with yourself and the process can be essential to long-term success. There are also many alternatives to 12-step programs that may work better for you, both in-person and virtual or online. You may want to consider attending a 12-step program and getting a sponsor. These programs are designed to hold you accountable and build a strong support system.
How to Recognize Internal vs External Relapse Triggers
Physical relapses are one of the most challenging stages of relapse to overcome. In many cases, users cave to drug use during a window of opportunity and falsely believe it will cause no harm. Interpersonal relationships are not only a huge component of mental health, but also very important to overcoming the isolation of trauma and PTSD. Feeling triggered isn’t just about something rubbing you the wrong way. For someone with a history of trauma, being around anything that reminds them of a traumatic experience can make them feel like they’re experiencing the trauma all over again. Avoiding your triggers is the most effective way to avoid having PTSD symptoms.
Relapse Triggers
Finding new ways to deal with chronic pain may be an essential way of managing this relapse trigger. Mindfulness practices include staying in the present, being aware of your surroundings (including potential triggers), and meditation. Mindfulness meditation is a way to recover your sense of well-being in the face of stress. Emotional relapse is the first of three stages of relapse, so keeping an eye on your emotional state is an important way to manage triggers. Don’t face these challenges alone—join our community at The Retreat today! Take that first step toward overcoming your triggers by reaching out to us; we’re here to support you every step of the way on your path toward lasting recovery.
Learn about some common triggers that raise the risk of relapse and how they can be avoided.
Addiction Triggers And How To Manage Them
Common Internal Relapse Triggers
Staying Grounded: Managing Triggers in Addiction Recovery
What if a Trigger Leads to a Relapse?
