How to Manage Relapse Triggers During Addiction Recovery
- Mandy Sandhu
- 14 Oct 2014
Successfully completing substance abuse or alcohol addiction treatment is a major achievement for a drug addict. But, according to our doctors in drug rehab Toronto, the real test begins when you step out of the rehab center. You are now about to make a commitment to abstinence from alcohol and drugs every day.
You will experience cravings for the drug of your preference, and perhaps your body gets numb and you have a constant urge to have drugs once. You will encounter triggers that can be the outcome of people around you, any form of events and subsequent emotions that will develop a strong urge to drink or get high again. You need to be strong enough to overcome such triggers otherwise you’ll risk your recovery success.
Tips to Manage Triggers During Addiction Recovery
Identify your personal triggers
Different addicts have different sets of triggers. Some of the common triggers usually found in addicts after recovery are seeing someone drinking, walking by a bar, after getting into an argument with some friend or family member, and being bored.
Know the triggers and face them
If you think they will not happen to you, you are probably fooling yourself. Instead, know your triggers and face every situation smartly. Don’t get negative by thinking that you can never recover from addiction. You just need to be open about your triggers and plan an effective strategy to deal with such triggers.
Administer/Manage your trigger plan
Get ready with an effective plan before you get triggered. Be determined about your goal. It is crucial to saving yourself from a temporary or a full relapse back to addiction. You need to achieve sobriety and give out your best for that.
Look after yourself
Triggers can be easily handled when you sleep, eat and exercise properly. You might be familiar with H.A.L.T : Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. These things are considered as a significant cause of relapses. If you feel any of the four, you need to take reliable action. Instead of reacting or taking any wrong step, take action. Eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are tired, watch a comedy movie or talk to your best friend when feeling lonely or angry.
Do not test yourself
It is advised to not to test yourself, once you know the triggers. Like, if you know walking by a bar triggers you, make sure you don’t walk by that side. You can try so once you are sure about your recovery and such things don’t affect you much. Just identify your current triggers, prepare a plan and practice that when you get triggered. It is crucial to managing your triggers well during recovery from addiction.
We, at ‘Freedom From Addiction‘, provide innovative and effective drug addiction recovery programs in Toronto. Freedom From Addiction Toronto endeavours to help addicts in achieving life-long sobriety.