Managing Triggers in Addiction Recovery

This plan might include asking your therapist for an emergency therapy session, visiting the emergency room, or enrolling in inpatient treatment again. Write down a schedule of your favorite support groups and attend a meeting for additional guidance. Commit to talking with one or more of the support group members regularly.

The first goal is to help the patient understand the importance of self-care. The second goal is to help patients recognize their denial so they can further understand the need to take steps to avoid progressing through the stages of a relapse. However, the truth is that using once is likely to cause you to spiral out of control. To make celebrations a safe space, ensure that there is at least one person present that will make sure you do not do anything detrimental to your recovery and health.

Create an Action Plan

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40 and 60% of people who receive treatment for drug addiction will experience relapse. This means that relapse is a https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/types-of-relapse-triggers/ common part of the journey to addiction recovery. If you’ve experienced relapse before, you are not alone, and it doesn’t mean that you’ll never have a successful recovery.

Recognition and avoidance of potential triggers will be a key part of any recovery process. Some environmental triggers can be anticipated and avoided, such as returning to an old place of employment where you frequently abused drugs or alcohol. Other triggers may pop up unexpectedly—like hearing a song on the radio while driving down the road. That’s why it’s so important to enroll in an evidence-based treatment center in order to acquire the tools you need to respond to those sudden triggers in a healthy way. As soon as things start getting hard, it’s tempting to turn back to addiction. Instead, learn how to practice relaxation, and how to be relaxed in any and every situation.

Dangers of Relapse

At Discovery Institute, our team of professionals can help you gain some insight into how to recognize relapse triggers and what to do if you relapse after you’ve completed rehab and detox. If you have any questions or need additional treatment after a relapse, please contact us today. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other https://ecosoberhouse.com/ mental illnesses can be major relapse triggers. If you are experiencing negative thoughts, monitor them by journaling and talking to a therapist. Your medical professional may also suggest medication as a way to help treat symptoms of mental illness. It’s key to remember that these are not failures and shouldn’t be termed as such.

• Numerous studies have shown that mind-body relaxation reduces the use of drugs and alcohol and is effective in long-term relapse prevention [28,29].
• Long-term drug use creates an association in the brain between daily routines and drug experiences.
• There are many categories of addiction relapse triggers, and they fall into multiple groups.
• Reach out to family members or friends who are safe and encouraging or join a support group.
• It can begin with an emotional relapse, followed by mental and then physical relapses.
• Educating clients in these few rules can help them focus on what is important.
• Staying proactive by finding new, enjoyable activities and avoiding overwhelming feelings is an effective way to combat boredom.

One reason is because the element of change can create stress and trigger thoughts of using. While you may be excited for your new job, you might also be worrying about your ability to be successful at it. A trigger can also arise from the desire to celebrate your accomplishments. You might think that just one drink with friends will be alright, but this could result in a full relapse. Nurses are well placed to serve a key role in teams seeking to help individuals in recovery avoid relapses.

Addiction Destroys Dreams, We Can Help

Doing so will help you quickly identify and deal with them before they become too overwhelming. You can also find ways to replace old habits with healthier activities. Therapists and counselors will document, share, and regularly update these strategies throughout your treatment. For example, celebrating these milestones may provide a tempting excuse to give into old habits.