So, you’ve managed to be, and stay clean for an ample amount of time and you’re proud of yourself! But, before you know it, it seems as though any and everything that could possibly cause stress and problems in your life begins to surface all at once; now you’re tempted to go back. While it’s not the easiest thing to do, learning what triggers you can be a great aid in helping you resist returning back down that dark path.
In layman’s terms, a trigger is something that ignites the desire to drink or use drugs. These can be:
- Tragic loss
- Recurring feelings
- Memories
- Familiar locations
- Sensory sensations (taste, smell, sound, etc.)
- A particular person or group of people
Each of these factors can cause you to want to reuse drugs or alcohol as a method of coping; any of these mediums you pick becomes your “escape”. Triggers can be defined as certain places, people, or situations and circumstances associated with the kind of behavior in question. The nature of addiction triggers are also commonly external. Outside triggers can be things such as a stressful situation, or places that are high risk and remind you of, or are linked to your drug abuse history. These external triggers can be split into two subcategories:
- Environmental triggers – places/atmospheres that may provoke a relapse
- Social triggers – interactions and communication among the “bad company” that may pull you back into substance abuse
It is possible to ever get rid of substance abuse triggers indefinitely? No; but, it is possible to weaken their power. Of course, triggers are going to exist everywhere around you. You can never get rid of smells, tastes, and sounds, nor totally isolate yourself from dangerous people and situations. However, you can learn to keep your impulses under control! You can find happiness and pleasure in a new activity or hobby. Discover something new, because it will help you stay away from a toxic stress reliever rather than utilizing a healthy one!
Over time, practicing healthy addiction recovery teaches you to be aware of all possible triggers, while learning how to recognize them and deal with them, should they occur. At Asana Recovery, the practices of our daily work help us to understand that it may be difficult to recover from addiction, as we help those struggling from it the most. Many people believe that they can make it without any help, but rehabilitation programs are a huge asset in fighting to leave dependency. It isn’t always easy or smooth, but you can defeat it if backed by the right support team. Processes of counseling along with aftercare can assist you in addressing any psychological keys that led you toward addiction initially, also helping you to create structures to better cope with life, minus addiction.
Programs including supervised detox and residential treatment at Asana Recovery are always offered in a relaxed, supportive, inspirational environment. We’re seriously and deeply committed to ensuring long term recovery while guiding you down a path to a healthy and happy future. Why wait? There’s no time like right now, and we’re readily available to speak to you. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn all about our in-depth drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
