There are many kinds of addiction relapse triggers. They can be emotional, environmental or mental. Can-Am would like to bring awareness to 10 of the most common triggers in addiction recovery, along with quick tips on how to avoid them.
1. HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
The HALT acronym helps those in recovery keep an eye on some of the most basic human needs that can lead to or intensify triggers if not fulfilled. Being in any one of the HALT states reduces a person’s ability to cope with stress and increases impulsivity.
Do your best to plan meals, engage in mindfulness, seek out social support and stick to a regular sleep schedule. Doing so will provide a baseline that helps reduce reactivity to triggers.
2. Challenging Emotions
Negative emotions like sadness, guilt or anger are often core reasons why people begin abusing substances in the first place. When these emotions crop up again during recovery, the brain remembers dealing with them using drugs or alcohol and prompts cravings.
No one can avoid negative emotions altogether. To keep emotions from triggering a relapse, people in recovery need to learn coping skills that can be discovered through therapy.
3. Stress
Both chronic and acute stress increase the risk of drug addiction and may be the most common triggers for relapse. Stress is a part of daily life for most people, whether it’s being late to work in the morning or tense relations with a loved one. Health problems, increased responsibility and other events can result in stress that triggers drug cravings.
The only solution to stress is a combination of preventive self-care and employing coping skills whenever you start to feel overwhelmed.
4. Over-Confidence in Recovery
Recovery is a journey with no end, yet some people begin to feel that they are cured and don’t have to worry about triggers anymore. It’s important to develop a healthy level of self-confidence, but humility is necessary too. If someone forgets that addiction is a chronic condition, they may be tempted to have “just one” drink, injection, hit or bump with the expectation that it won’t be a big deal. This leads to riskier situations and eventually a full relapse.
Staying off this slippery slope is the only way to prevent over-confidence from resulting in relapse. Just say no to any and all consumption of drugs or alcohol.
5. Physical or Mental Illness
A variety of underlying mental illnesses like depression and anxiety are closely related to addiction and can result in a person experiencing more triggers or more powerful ones. Physical illness and chronic pain also stress the body and can increase the risk of relapse.
When you see a doctor or mental health specialist, let them know that you are in recovery. Insisting on non-addictive prescriptions and alternatives to medication can help eliminate a potential source of triggers.
6. Social Isolation
For many people, engaging socially and forming a support system in recovery can feel exhausting. Some people will try to avoid it altogether, which can lead to prolonged isolation and mounting loneliness. Without other people around, it’s easier to talk yourself into drug or alcohol use and rationalize it.
Struggling with social anxiety is common for people in recovery, so having a sponsor or trusted friend to turn to is a good start in avoiding isolation and its associated triggers.
7. Romantic Relationships
Anyone who has been through a breakup knows the emotional fortitude required to move on with life. On top of the upheaval associated with addiction recovery, romantic relationships can create devastating tides of emotion that make a person feel lost an out of control — both powerful drug addiction relapse triggers. There is no need to remain single forever, but actively choosing to avoid romantic relationships for at least the first year of recovery is a good rule of thumb.
8. New Jobs and Promotions
It’s not just negative events that can result in addiction relapse triggers. Getting a new job or earning a promotion can trigger a relapse in a couple of different ways. For one, you might be tempted to use again “just this once” as a means of celebrating. Planning sober festivities is one good way to stay on track.
There is also the stress and pressure associated with new or greater responsibilities. Having to learn new skills and perform well in a new role can lead to anxiety and stress.
9. Nostalgia for Substance Abuse
Addiction happens because the use of drugs or alcohol makes a person feel better in some way. Although someone in recovery knows that their addiction was harming themselves and those around them, it’s fairly common to view past substance abuse through rose-colored glasses.
Reminiscing about or dwelling on memories of past substance abuse is one of the brightest red flags in terms of triggers and relapse. If you find yourself stuck thinking about drugs or alcohol, it’s time to get your support system involved. Talk to a counselor, supportive friend, or your sponsor to help remind you why you’ve chosen recovery.
10. Places and Situations Where Drugs Are Available
It’s not always easy to avoid being around substances of abuse. Alcohol is particularly difficult because so many people view drinking as normal, and it can crop up in unexpected places like office parties or even a neighborhood potluck. It’s important to make a list of people, places and things that are significant triggers for you so you can avoid putting yourself in a situation that may support relapse. Enlist the help of a friend, counselor, or sponsor to get down the triggers you may not think of right off the bat.
Additional Help
Many of you know the difficult and ongoing obstacles that addiction offers. Fighting addiction is a lifelong battle, with most people not achieving success on the first go around. A lot of people with many years of recovery do not become clean and sober on their first try. Having a support system is crucial (e.g family, friends,co-workers, 12 step members). These support systems help us to face and overcome symptoms of addiction. Sometimes additional help is required, Can-Am Interventions specializes in supporting people in addictions of all types and levels. We are here to provide awareness to your situation as well to provide council and to facilitate clients with their needs (Detox, Treatment centers, Therapy, Lifestyle changes, Relationship guidance…). If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please feel free to call or email us. We are here and ready to help.
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