Triggers refer to people, events, and circumstances that can tempt you toward substances. These triggers become a formidable challenge to overcome when you are in recovery, to maintain your sobriety. Managing your triggers is crucial to avoiding relapse. This will require crafting personalized relapse prevention plans with your therapist, as recovery is different for everyone. But knowing what to expect will allow you to be prepared in this journey toward recovery.
Understanding Substance Abuse and Triggers
Substance abuse is a behavioral condition characterized by heavy substance use and an inability to control substance use. Substance use often follows triggers, which are cues that tempt you to use substances.
Triggers can be both internal and external. Internal triggers refer to your psychological state of mind, such as stress or anxiety, that can drive you to use substances.
External triggers refer to environmental cues like people, events, and circumstances, which can tempt or remind one of substance use.
What Are the Common Kinds of Substance Abuse Triggers?
While substance use triggers can differ from person to person, there are some common kinds of substance abuse triggers that you need to be aware of. Recognizing these triggers becomes the first step to preventing relapse:
Celebration – Alcohol and drugs are the center of most celebrations these days. Wanting to fit in and enjoy yourself is one of the biggest triggers to use substances again.
People – When you use substances, your social circle consists of those people who use substances as well. Hanging around with the same circle and not drawing your boundaries can be a big trigger to desire for substances.
Loneliness – Sometimes, recovery can be isolating. You are no longer in touch with the same people who use substances, or maybe you do not fit in. This loneliness, coupled with social pressure, can lead you toward substance use again.
Negative Frame of Mind – Negative feelings and emotions, like sadness, frustration, isolation, and others, can sometimes become intense and difficult to manage. Lack of effective coping mechanisms can increase the desire to use substances.
Stress and Anxiety – Stress and anxiety are among the biggest drivers of substance use. While some levels of stress and anxiety are common, overwhelming levels of the same can become one of the biggest, yet common, triggers of substance use.
What Are Some Effective Relapse Prevention Strategies?
To be effective, relapse prevention strategies must be tailored to your recovery needs and goals. You will have to work with your therapist to craft one in your path toward lasting recovery. However, here are some common effective relapse prevention strategies you can adopt regardless:
Follow Your Aftercare Plan
After rehab, you will be given an aftercare plan. This will typically involve sober living, ongoing therapy/counseling, medication monitoring, relapse prevention, and peer support. Follow this plan to prevent relapse and maintain your recovery.
Coping Strategies
First and foremost, you need effective coping strategies to cope with your triggers. Triggers only lead to substance use in the absence of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Some of the strategies to look into are:
- Physical exercise
- Deep breathing exercises
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Journaling.
These coping strategies are healthy ways to relieve stress, anxiety, and mood shifts, so that you can effectively handle your triggers without resorting to substance use.
Structured Routine
While rehab will be intensively structured, following a structured routine in your life post-rehab can help you avoid triggers and prevent relapse.
Scheduling regular activities, involving self-care, career, and other interests, will keep you engaged and focused on your recovery goals.
Having a structured routine will also reduce any idle/lonely time and keep your mind away from substance use.
Avoid High-Risk Circumstances
Avoiding or reducing those high-risk circumstances that lead you to substance use is key to preventing relapse. These high-risk circumstances are unique to you – maybe they can be previous hangouts, people, or parties.
Wherever you can avoid, avoid these triggers. However, keep in mind that avoiding all triggers is not possible at all times.
Build a Strong Social Support System Around You
While boredom and loneliness can lead you to substance use, recovery requires a strong support system around you.
Reach out to your family and friends who enable your recovery. At the same time, attend peer-led support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and so on to cultivate a sober community around you.
A strong network can offer motivation, encouragement, and a shoulder to lean on when things get overwhelming. It functions as a buffer against substance use and mental health conditions.
Draw Personal Boundaries
You need to draw personal boundaries around you. This involves saying no to substances even when offered, avoiding people who use and tempt you toward substances, and removing yourself from circumstances where you can be tempted, among others.
This will be difficult, but with practice, you will be able to draw firm boundaries around you that will keep you away from everything that will get in the way of your recovery.
Reach Out When You Need Help
Sometimes, despite all your efforts, day-to-day life conditions can get overwhelming. In this case, reach out to your therapist or doctor so that you receive the immediate help you need whenever you feel you are on the verge of or have relapsed.
While preventing relapse is essential to your recovery, please remember that relapse is not a moral failing or a failing of any kind. It is part and parcel of your recovery.
Even if you have relapsed, consider this a learning opportunity and treat yourself with forgiveness as you move onward in this journey toward recovery.
Substance Abuse Treatment Options
To prevent relapse, treating your substance abuse is crucial. There are cutting-edge, innovative recovery options that can be tailored to your needs and goals for lasting recovery.
Substance abuse can be treated in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Your treatment plan will typically involve:
- Medically supervised detox
- Psychotherapy
- Medication Management
- Peer support
- Aftercare.
Find a Sober Community That Cares for You!
Whether it is you or a loved one, relapse is not a sign of failure – it is your opportunity toward personal growth. With the right recovery options, you can overcome challenges and lead a sober, fulfilling life.
Please reach out to Sober Living West today – we offer premier sober living homes and connect you with other holistic recovery options whenever you need them.
Please give us a call at (310) 218-5158 to learn more today!