Focus: Addiction: Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery PMC

Breathalyzers have the advantage of being quick and inexpensive to administer. However, at this time, breathalyzers are only able to detect alcohol, so they may not provide deterrence against relapse on other substances unless combined with random urine drug screens. Experts in the field commonly hold that the abstinence stage starts as soon as the individual ceases their use and may continue for one or two years. During this stage, the primary concerns of the patient are often coping with their cravings and avoiding relapses. Have you ever found yourself overcome with emotion over something someone did or said?

Creating a plan for how to act when you encounter these triggers can be very helpful. Believe it or not, some of the closest people to you can trigger a relapse. While it is difficult to step away from friends, family, and loved ones; sometimes, you may have to keep them at an arm’s length. In the process, you will be able to better maintain your abstinence and find it easier for you to recover. With the right relapse prevention treatment, you will be on your way to a life free of drugs and alcohol and full of promise and contentment. Mental conditions like anxiety and depression paired with physical pain or discomfort can trigger a relapse for even the most determined person in recovery.

Managing External Triggers

They often enter treatment saying, “We want our old life back — without the using.” I try to help clients understand that wishing for their old life back is like wishing for relapse. Rather than seeing the need for change as a negative, they are encouraged to see recovery as an opportunity for change. If they make the necessary changes, they can go forward and be happier than they were before. It forces people to reevaluate their lives and make changes that non-addicts don’t have to make. This is also the time to deal with any family of origin issues or any past trauma that may have occurred.

Leaving behind the all-or-nothing approach helps people take a more rounded view of their recovery and limit reactionary emotions. 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 https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 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. 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.

Causes of Relapse in Late Stage Recovery

For those struggling with substance abuse and addiction, it isn’t uncommon for the affected person to return to alcohol or drug use. About 40-60% of those struggling with addiction relapse following treatment. Many internal and external triggers are easily identifiable as they can be clearly connected to one’s substance misuse. For example, someone might see substance use imagery on a TV show and later romanticize using. These events can seem unrelated, but each step leads to the next and can snowball, eventually resulting in a relapse.

• Emotional, environmental, and exposure triggers after addiction rehab are inevitable.
• Managing these triggers often requires the ability to process experiences in your past that led to emotional wounds or trauma.

People who struggle with addiction need effective ways of tolerating, managing, and making sense of the negative feelings encountered in daily life. Alcohol, drugs, or addictive behaviors may have provided temporary relief from those feelings in the past, but you can’t rely https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/types-of-relapse-triggers/ on them anymore. People who participated in your addictive behavior are potential triggers for a relapse, regardless of whether or not they are still drinking, smoking, or using drugs. Likewise, certain places that remind you of your addiction may be triggering for you.

Objects: Things That Can Trigger Relapse

Even some family members could be a trigger, especially if they make you feel more childlike and vulnerable. If you are starting to consider relapse, you may find that you are exposing yourself to possible triggers, even subconsciously. If you find yourself in high risk situations that could trigger a relapse, you should immediately reach out to someone that you can trust and who is supportive of your recovery. Talking through the trigger and enlisting someone else’s help can provide you with the motivation and assistance needed to overcome the trigger and stay sober.