There are many categories of addiction relapse triggers, and they fall into multiple groups. They can be emotional, environmental or mental, and often a trigger falls into multiple categories. These are 10 of the most common triggers in addiction recovery, along with quick tips on how to avoid them. Some people experience a whirlwind of emotions when seeing old friends and loved ones, which can trigger the desire to have a drink. Other people may become so stressed out by the push to perform at school or work that they are tempted by the feelings produced by stimulants.
Understanding Relapse: Why it Happens and How to Prevent It
In our treatment centers, clients go through addiction counseling that teaches them how to identify and cope with their potential triggers. Pressure from places and people around you can weigh heavily on your goals to stay sober. Especially early on in your recovery, you can help avoid peer/social pressure relapse by steering clear of places and people that remind you of times when you were using drugs or alcohol. We shall also outline how to manage these triggers so you do not relapse. Knowing your addiction triggers is no guarantee you will not relapse. Write down things that have helped you stay sober on your recovery journey.
The Role of Nutrition in Substance Abuse Recovery
- By staying vigilant and seeking help when necessary, you can continue your recovery journey and avoid the pitfalls of relapse.
- As soon as things start getting hard, it’s tempting to turn back to addiction.
- During this stage, a person may not be thinking about using drugs or alcohol, but their emotions may be placing them in jeopardy of relapse.
- This article aims to provide insights into the common triggers for relapse and strategies to effectively manage these high-risk situations.
As another example, maybe your spouse starts having a glass of wine every night after trying some at a restaurant. A Southern California detox and residential program offering personalized, evidence-based treatment in a tech-friendly and pet-friendly atmosphere. Integrating the power of nature and evidence-based care to treat addiction and co-occurring disorders with detox, residential, and outpatient care.
Maintain a Support System
While some people manage difficult situations with ease, people in recovery can easily slip back into old habits when dealing with new situations. For instance, the death of a loved one can easily trigger a relapse in a recovering addict. Some, people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction feel as though they can’t mix and mingle without the use of substances. 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.
Researchers followed the cocaine use patterns of stressed and unstressed rats and used a low dose of cocaine as a trigger. The stressed rats’ responses to the trigger mirrored those of people during relapse. While holidays are a time of celebration for some, they may be a struggle for people in recovery.
- A relapse prevention plan works best when you do it under a therapist or counselor’s supervision.
- They also offer emotional support, monitor progress, and collaborate with families and healthcare professionals to ensure successful recovery.
- It helps to compare addiction relapse to relapse in other chronic conditions.
- It’s important for you to overcome any reluctance you may have to reach out for help from others.
Substance abuse and addiction can have devastating effects on individuals and their families. Overcoming this challenge requires the right support, and one of the most effective forms of support is substance abuse counseling. It supports your recovery after you leave more intensive treatment, like residential rehab. Aftercare can include sober living, ongoing therapy sessions, and continued contact with staff from your treatment center.
Common External Relapse Triggers
In this blog post, we’ll discuss what a relapse trigger is and identify the different types of triggers. A relapse prevention plan is essential for recognizing warning signs and ensuring sobriety. With the guidance of experienced professionals, these plans offer strategies for behavioral change. This may vary from person to person and be influenced by things such as extent and length of use. Talking openly about a lapse or relapse with a care team can help you develop and strengthen your relapse prevention plan and identify how to get back on track with your recovery goals.
Positive Feelings Trigger Relapse
I find it helpful to encourage clients to compare their current behavior to behavior during past relapses and see if their self-care is worsening or improving. During therapy for people experiencing emotional relapse, patients are encouraged to identify their denial and focus on self-care. Researchers deduced that the amygdala played an important role in producing focused and exclusive desire, similar to drug addiction. Internal triggers act in reverse, associating these signals to the substances that elicit them. The research maintained that subconscious cues are dangerous because they reinforce the patient’s desire to restart using drugs without them being aware of it.
Building a Support System
In the process, you will be able to better maintain your abstinence and find it easier for you to recover. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40 and 60% of people who receive treatment for drug addiction will experience types of relapse triggers relapse. This means that relapse is a 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. One of the biggest risks during drug recovery is that someone who is recovering from using a substance will relapse and begin taking that substance again. To avoid relapse, it is important to understand the risk factors and causes that typically lead to relapse.