Sobriety is a life-long commitment, with several ups and downs. Even after graduating from a rehab facility, you will face challenges in your recovery journey. Cravings are the primary challenge during recovery. While the desire to use drugs or alcohol seems to develop from nowhere, the truth is that relapse triggers bring them up. Northern Illinois Recovery Center can provide more information on the different types of relapse triggers and managing them.
What Are Relapse Triggers?
Relapse triggers are either internal or external stimuli that prompt a recovering addict to crave drugs. Relapse triggers activate the brain and remind the recovering patient of their drug use, making them develop a strong urge for the substance.
What Are the Different Types of Relapse Triggers?
Relapse triggers can come in both psychological and physical forms. Stress is the primary cause of relapse. Most people turn to substance or alcohol abuse once they fail to cope with stressful situations. Overwhelming emotions such as grief, frustration, and sadness can trigger you to relapse. While recovery should lead you to a better life, changing your daily functions comes with some inevitable challenges. The fear of facing these challenges translates to high levels of stress. Some of the challenges that can lead to stress include:
- Difficulty finding employment
- Challenges in maintaining healthy relationships
- Unexpected illness of a loved one
- Unpaid bills
- Confrontation with a stranger
People and Places Connected to Substance and Alcohol Use
Your former friends who always invited you for a drink are potential triggers for relapse, regardless of whether they are still using drugs or alcohol. Any place that reminds you of your addiction is also harmful to you. Your family members can also be a trigger, especially if they make you feel vulnerable. People and place triggers remind you of your drug-seeking behavior, and they are enough to make you restart your old behavior.
Things and Objects Connected to Drug Use
Objects connected to drug use can induce a craving. For instance, drug paraphernalia such as cigars, rolling papers, syringes, and pipes can be a relapse trigger to a former addict. The brain of a former addict registers such things and relates them to the same environment involved in drug-seeking behavior.
Holidays and Times of Celebration
People often come together to celebrate their achievements in life. However, even joyous celebrations such as birthdays and holidays can be triggering. You may feel happy, in control of your body, and confident enough to handle one drink. But can you control your urge? Recovering addicts often lose their capacity to know when to stop. That one drink can turn into binge drinking and eventually relapse. Parties also feature themes of letting loose, which can become excessive. Such situations can be problematic for someone in early recovery.
Negative Emotions
People in early recovery struggle with managing and making sense of negative feelings that occur in daily life. Previously, they used drugs to provide temporary relief to feelings such as anger and disappointments. These feelings may force you to remember how it felt like to deal with such emotions while drunk or high. Without proper guidance, you may find yourself turning to drugs to help you cope with anger or disappointment. If you are at this point in your recovery journey, consider enrolling in a relapse prevention program in Northern Illinois.
Learn More About the Different Types of Relapse Triggers at Northern Illinois Recovery Center
Relapse triggers are inevitable. The best way to manage them is by learning how to avoid and cope with them. Our recovery center in Northern Illinois provides post-recovery programs that can help with relapse prevention. These services include:
- Recovery coaching program
- Addiction aftercare program
- Sober living program
- 12 step programs
- Telehealth rehab program
Relapse prevention is vital in your journey to long-lasting recovery. If you or your loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, we are ready to help. Call Northern Illinois Recovery Center now at 855.786.1978 to get professional help to prevent relapse triggers.
