Avoiding Triggers After Substance Abuse Rehab
Triggers, what are they?
If you have spent any time in rehab for substance abuse, then you are probably familiar with the concept of triggers. Sticking points on the road to rehabilitation, these are places, emotions, people, and thoughts that spark the desire to use a drug or to relapse into the cycle of substance abuse. It has long been said that humans are creatures of habit. As everyone is different, you will have your own particular triggers that lead you down the road to bad habits. Learning to identify your triggers is the first step to avoiding them. Here are five common triggers and suggestions on how to circumvent them.
Trigger 1: Displaced energy
Without substance intoxication you may find that your thoughts and emotions rush at you and it can be difficult to maintain focus and calmness. Often the feelings that were suppressed will come to the fore, leading to a desire to escape from your head space. Plus, a new source of your energy is available to you, now that you are no longer dissipating it with substances. Breathing is the key to slowing down your mental process. Try to relax with each deep breath.
Trigger 2: Everyday stress
To see the everyday pressures of life for what they are instead of seeing them as major issues can help you to avoid relapse. Face each problem in life on its own terms individually and they become easier to tackle.
Trigger 3: A short temper
Irritability can manifest quick in the time during recovery, and repressed emotions may come bubbling out. The natural response for irritation is to seek out relief. If you have an addiction problem, then relief is often through substance abuse. In order to prevent this from happening you need to develop forgiveness and understanding, not just for other people but for yourself as well.
Trigger 4: Misplaced confidence
In any recovery caution is vital. The boost of confidence you receive with your new found sobriety must be tempered with humility. It can be easy to make the mistake of thinking you have kicked a habit and a little taste won’t have an effect on your addictive behavior. Remember the hard work it took to get sober and remain humble. Do not test yourself.
Trigger 5: Environment
One of the biggest trigger is your environment. Spending time in the places and with the people associated with your addiction problem make it difficult not to slip into familiar bad habits. Examine your life, your friends, and family. It is advisable to cut ties with harmful relationships and to stay away from the places that remind you of an addiction.
Other common triggers such as receiving money, loneliness, the culmination of a difficult workday or week, and boredom require much will power to overcome on your behalf. It is important to know your triggers and to even practice a response that negates them. Taking care of yourself with plenty of rest, exercise, good company, and a balanced diet can prove beneficial to avoid a relapse. Try to be forgiving and understanding of yourself as you are supervising your triggers throughout recovery from addiction.