Even people who are incredibly close to you may act as relapse triggers. That’s one reason that it’s so important for your loved ones to be on board with your recovery. For example, if you used drugs every time you were with a specific group of people, you might feel triggers whenever you’re in the same social https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/dealing-with-internal-and-external-relapse-triggers/ situation. If you always cracked open a beer after you came home from work, took off your shoes and sat down in front of the TV, that routine may give you the urge to drink. During my road on my recovery journey, I learned to identify my own triggers, and I truly believe that this helped me stay sober.

McGeehan points to a 2013 review of more than 200 studies that found mindfulness-based therapy effectively reduces anxiety, depression, and stress. However, if avoidance hinders your ability to function, you should seek help. It often starts with strong emotions that make you neglect your physical and psychological well-being. Then, you might begin to justify why and how you can use again in a more controlled way.

Create an Internal or External Trigger

When a craving happens there is a mental, and often physical, urge to start using again. Good, we have a question, but before we get to the answer of that question we must understand the concept of getting people HOOKED onto something. How far along someone is in their recovery, how stable they feel emotionally, and how strongly the trigger affects them should all be considered when deciding how to respond.

However, it is essential to seek specialized care from our addiction treatment center promptly to avert the relapse from becoming a full-blown return to active addiction. Keeping a trigger diary is an effective way for individuals to identify and anticipate triggers in their daily lives. When someone records detailed information on what, who, when, and where was the motivation before their use or craving, they can gain insight into how to reduce temptation or take preventive action. At the same time, journaling can provide a safe space to document emotions, thoughts, and feelings surrounding the trigger to gain better insight into the triggers themselves.

How to Manage Triggers in Recovery

Do you get a flurry of butterflies in your stomach when you think about work when you’re with your kids? Bricker encourages staying with the feeling before acting on the impulse. This just means the service feature itself is the external trigger. Like for example, Instagram slogan “Fast beautiful photo sharing” which attracted millions of new users and as we know the product keeps them coming back (referenced from Nir and Far Blog by Nir Eyal).

• If you or someone you know may need help dealing with triggers, Agape offers an environment focused on recovery.
• The following activity offers suggestions to support you in your decision to cut back or quit drinking.
• There are many different types of objects that can trigger addiction relapse.

During recovery, each person will encounter triggers that could result in relapse. Knowing and understanding how triggers work and being aware of your personal triggers are critical aspects of safeguarding your recovery. There are many different situations that could trigger addiction relapse. Some of the most common include being in a group setting, being around people who are using drugs or alcohol, going to a bar or party, and being in a stressful situation.