For Ida, the first step to stopping this negative pattern is to recognize when she has been triggered. Overconfidence in recovery can be dangerous, as it can lead to a false sense of security, making you more likely to take risks and eventually relapse. It’s important to remain conscious of the fact that addiction is a chronic illness, and relapse is always a possibility. All of these situations could potentially lead to a relapse if you’re not prepared. We also overreact when we’re reminded of an experience we’ve had with someone or something important in our past. They may be hard to recognize in ourselves because we believe our perceptions are accurate, but they’re easy to identify in others.

Can PTSD Cause Executive Dysfunction? – Agape Treatment

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but descriptions of any of the above could contribute to upsetting memories or flashbacks if you’ve had a traumatic experience related to any of these things. Some people prefer one-on-one therapy to recovery groups or 12-step programs. Others find success with therapy in addition to self-help groups or other means of support. You may want to consider attending a 12-step program and getting a sponsor.

Identifying Your Triggers

• There are two main types of triggers that can start someone towards the path of relapse.
• Finally, and most importantly, we can change the way we see ourselves to get rid of self-limiting beliefs.
• This fact leads some people to question the legitimacy of triggers in general.
• All behaviors, both traction and distraction, are prompted by triggers, both internal and external.

A trigger is social, psychological, and emotional situations and events that compel an addicted person to seek their substance of choice, eventually leading them to relapse. When an addicted person uses drugs or alcohol for a prolonged period of time, it changes the brain—eventually associating certain stimuli with the desire to drink or do drugs. Relapse is often caused by dangerous places, people, and thoughts. We must be aware of these potential triggers to maintain our recovery journey and stay on the path of sobriety. It is important to recognize these triggers and take steps to avoid them. This could include avoiding certain people or places or engaging in activities that help to distract.

How to Cope With Triggers

Dealing with physical pain calls for the exploration of non-addictive pain management techniques and insistence on non-addictive prescriptions when necessary. By managing pain effectively without resorting to addictive substances, you can maintain your recovery and avoid relapse. Overreactions occur when the intensity and duration of our feelings and/or behavior are disproportionately greater than normal under the present circumstances. If you’re sensitive about your body size, and your husband says your dress is too tight, you might either blow up or feel unlovable and depressed. Wanting to attack someone else or ourselves is a typical reaction to shame. It may be trying to be helpful or he may be trying to hurt or provoke you.

• In recent experiences, drug and alcohol abuse after practicing abstinence, heightens an individuals chances of overdosing.
• Sometimes, you can quickly identify a trigger and begin to anticipate it.
• For instance, past failures or traumatic events can trigger feelings of guilt, shame, or fear, which might tempt an individual to resort back to substance use as a coping mechanism.

• These warnings originated in online forums for survivors of sexual trauma, where individuals would warn other readers about the upcoming content.
• Part of treating conditions like PTSD and substance use disorders often involves working on ways to cope with triggers in helpful, productive ways.
• External triggers are factors outside of an individual that may provoke a craving or desire to return to substance use.
• Building resilience is another critical aspect of relapse prevention.

Traction moves us toward our goals; distraction moves us away from them. External triggers, on the other hand, are cues in our environment such as the pings, dings, and rings that prompt us to check our email, answer a phone call, what is internal trigger or open a news alert. External triggers can also take the form of other people, such as a co-worker who stops by our desk to chat. They can also be objects, like a television set whose mere presence urges us to turn it on.

Ready to get started?

A relapse prevention plan is an essential tool in sustaining sobriety and avoiding setbacks in the recovery journey. Creating and adhering to a personalized relapse prevention plan can help in reducing the risk of reverting to substance use. Boredom can be a slippery slope if you’re not ready to tackle it head-on.

• This can help your mind and body realize that the trauma isn‘t actually happening anymore.
• Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power.

When you are reminded of a life changing traumatic event, it can take over your life and lead to adverse effects on your psychological and physical health. If you feel ready to talk to someone about it, consider looking for trauma-focused treatment. Triggers often feel unpredictable, but when we identify our triggers, we find connections between events, feelings, or sights that cause an immediate emotional or behavioral reaction. Seeing a particular item, environment, or person can easily be a trigger. For example, after a car accident, seeing a similar car to the one you were driving at the time of the traumatic event can lead to an unwanted response. Chances are, two people who experience a similar traumatic event won’t share triggers or have the same symptoms afterward.

Hacking Back External Triggers

Staying proactive by finding new, enjoyable activities and avoiding overwhelming feelings is an effective way to combat boredom. Engaging in fulfilling activities that replace substance use can help you stay on the right track and maintain your sobriety. A wise, apropos slogan is “Q-Tip,” – “Quit Taking It Personally.” Interpreting someone else’s words or actions to be a comment about us is taking another person’s feelings personally. We might react with guilt or defensiveness, because we assume we’re the cause of someone else’s negative emotion or problem. We have just taken on the other person’s problem or shame when they shame or blame us. Our peace of mind and self-esteem now resides with someone else.