6 Ways to Handle Triggers During Addiction Recovery

Alcohol Alcohol use disorder affects millions of people in the United States. Learn more about the risks and how to get help.Drugs If you or a loved one is struggling with drug abuse, you’re not alone. Learn more about the most commonly misused drugs.Addiction Treatment Going to a rehabilitation program greatly increases your chance of long-term recovery. Learn more about your options.Addiction Resources If you have more questions about addiction, we’ve gathered resources to help you and your loved ones. Emotions like anger, guilt, irritability, and low self-esteem can surface when individuals are triggered, spiraling into various behaviors and compulsions. Unfortunately, the nature of emotional or mental triggers can run very deep and can be traumatizing.

Try to recall the small moments in your day that brought you joy. That simple habit of reflecting on what you’re grateful for can lead to a much happier and more content life. Make a few minutes of your time everyday writing in your gratitude journal of your thoughts for the day.

Mental Health And Addiction

If you are having problems sleeping consider practicinggood sleep hygieneand asking your recovery specialist about non-addictive sleeping medications. Fear or Anxiety– Fear and anxiety can lead to increased stress.Stress in recoveryis especially common, due to the physical and emotional changes that occur. Anxiety in early recovery is normal, but this increased stress may lead to a desire to relapse. Finding new ways of coping with fear or anxiety is very important during recovery and is one of the reasons that professional help during recovery is so necessary. Empty Pill Bottles– For those who were previously addicted to an opiate, relapse triggers may include pill bottles that are reminders of the bottles that opioids come in. Someone who finds that this is a trigger may benefit from placing their prescription medications in a weekly medication planner instead of taking them from traditional medicine bottles.

  • Others find success with therapy in addition to self-help groups or other means of support.
  • Experiencing strong emotions such as anger, sadness, or joy can also act as a reminder or increase the urge to use.
  • The person in recovery will also need to set boundaries for themselves, for places they will not go to or events they won’t attend.
  • If you are suffering from, or have a history of trauma or psychiatric illness, it is recommended that you combine these services with treatment from a professional therapist.

Although relapse can be a part of the recovery process for some people, addiction treatment programs and personalized recovery support resources can drastically reduce relapse rates. During the initial phases of your recovery, free time may prompt your mind to wander towards thoughts of using. When you’re bored, you may imagine what a great time you would be having if you used. Banish this temptation by staying as busy as possible—structure your time and fill it with the healthy activities that reflect the abstinent individual you’re becoming. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Identifying Addiction Triggers is Necessary for Recovery

Then, Canyon Vista can help you start on the path to recovery. Our Tactical Recovery program helps our Military, Veterans, and First Responders recover from the pain, struggle, and damage that comes from fighting substance internal and external triggers use disorders. By numbing yourself to that risk through exposure, you may be able to defeat it. You are working on reprogramming your mind to break the association between the experience and the drug itself.

  • Then, they can stop the thoughts from going in a negative direction.
  • You may want to let your loved ones know what you’re going through and how you plan on coping.
  • Every one of our team members is certified to address and effectively treat the issues that come along with addiction.
  • However, learning the tools to cope with triggers is possible with the right support.

This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions. This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily. SENSORY TRIGGERS are related to the senses of sight, sound, taste, and touch. They might include certain styles of music or specific songs, or the taste of a drug. For example, powdered sugar or artificial sweetener, which resembles powdered drugs, can be a powerful trigger for people who used cocaine, methamphetamines, or heroin.

Opioid Use Disorder

Often a place may trigger a memory of an event, or smelling something, such as a particular cologne, may trigger your memory of a loved relative. The way that the brain links memories is a powerful tool that is used to help you recall important information, but that may also affect your recovery process. Learn about some common triggers that raise the risk of relapse and how they can be avoided. While many triggers can be negative experiences, it is important to note that positive events can trigger relapsing as well. Our dedicated team of behavioral health technicians and peer recovery support members are passionate and credentialed.

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