When you halt your substance use in rehab, you’ll hopefully avoid any setbacks in the future. But the simple fact is that the possibility of a relapse never truly goes away. Fortunately, relapse prevention therapy can help you withstand various challenges to your sobriety regimen. A big step in achieving this goal is increasing your awareness of your relapse triggers. Some triggers are well-established and affect large numbers of rehab graduates. Others may be more personal to you. To learn more, call us today at 888.231.1281.
How Substance Relapse Triggers Work
Following rehab, you likely have a conscious daily focus on avoiding drugs and alcohol. This kind of focus is crucial in sustaining your sobriety. However, there are forces at work that can erode your determination to stay sober. These forces generally go by the name of relapse triggers.
Addiction and substance abuse relapse triggers vary in many ways. However, they also have certain things in common. Most importantly, they do such things as:
- Consciously or subconsciously activate your inactive substance cravings
- Remind you of situations where you used to drink or take drugs
- Make you feel overwhelmed enough to revert back to your substance-using habits
These things are possible because addiction is chronic. You can treat and control it. However, it never fades away like short-term illnesses typically do. Given a chance, it can reassert itself and throw you right back into the cycle of compulsive use.
The Most Probable Addiction Relapse Triggers
Some alcohol and drug addiction relapse triggers are more typical than others. One of the most widespread triggers is stress. Frequent or intense stress can lead to unconscious reactions that override your conscious intentions. In this way, they can push you closer to a full-blown relapse or trigger such an event. Other widespread substance relapse triggers include:
- Lack of regular social contact
- Problems in your intimate relationships
- The start of a new intimate relationship
- Job promotions or the start of a new job
- Nostalgic feelings about drinking or drug use
- Negative emotional states
- Mental and physical health problems
- Ready access to drugs or alcohol
- Excessive faith in your ability to stay sober
This list reveals an important aspect of how relapses work. Namely, a triggering event or situation may accompany good news, as well as bad. This means that you must also remain vigilant during life’s ups, not just its downs. If you don’t, new substance abuse relapse triggers may soon be coming your way.
Triggers More Specific to You
Awareness of the most typical addiction relapse triggers is critical. However, these triggers aren’t the only ones you may need to watch out for. That’s true because factors that are more unique to you may also push you toward a relapse.
How do these unique alcohol and drug addiction relapse triggers form? There is no universal answer to this question. Some people may associate drug or alcohol use with a particular, unusual past experience. Others may feel their substance cravings rise in common situations that simply don’t trigger most people. What’s important is knowing which factors trigger you, whether they’re common or uncommon.
Schedule an Appointment at Northpoint for Help with Substance Relapse Triggers
Triggering events and situations in daily life can help bring about a substance relapse. The more you know about your specific risks, the better your chances of staying sober. You may share those risks in common with most people in recovery, but they may also be more specific to you.
At Northpoint Colorado, we’re dedicated to helping you control your relapse triggers. In line with this goal, we feature a robust relapse prevention program. To enroll in customized rehab that includes this program, just call us today at 888.231.1281 or use our online contact form.