It can be discouraging to learn drug addiction doesn’t have a cure. But there is hope. Instead of a magic pill, recovery is an ongoing process that takes work for both the person who was once addicted and their loved ones. This includes addressing drug addiction relapse triggers and understanding the challenges they present in the recovery process.
For some, a relapse can be extremely difficult to overcome. Though it’s not desirable, relapses can happen. They don’t undo all the progress and hard work in recovery, but it is important to seek more support to prevent them from happening again. Friends and family members can play an important role in identifying and addressing drug addiction relapse triggers to help their loved ones get the help they need.
Identifying Drug Addiction Relapse Triggers
Addiction and recovery are different for each individual. The drug addiction treatment process spends a lot of time on identifying relapse triggers and provides tools to cope with cravings and resist common triggers to sustain lifelong recovery.
This means that people in recovery may be committed to their new life but still struggle with some of the thoughts and feelings that contributed to their addiction. Addiction relapse triggers are sometimes difficult to avoid, so there needs to be a plan in place.
Some of the common addiction relapse triggers include:
Stress
Everyone deals with stress sometimes, both with healthy and unhealthy methods. For people who struggle with addiction, substance abuse is a source of stress relief, which makes dealing with stress in everyday life challenging.
Access
Having access to drugs or alcohol can be a significant trigger for people in recovery. For example, staying in a home with prescription opioids can be tempting for someone recovering from an opioid addiction.
Old Connections
Sometimes the drug itself isn’t the trigger but the people and places that were once associated with it. Being around the same people, spending time in the same bars or clubs, or engaging in behaviors often associated with drug use can intensify cravings and prompt a full relapse.
Isolation
Spending time with the wrong people can be a trigger, but so can cutting off connections to everyone. People need healthy human connections to thrive, especially for those struggling with their recovery and motivation to stay sober.
Illness
Mental health conditions or chronic physical conditions that contribute to drug use are addressed in recovery, but relapse or new illness can create a desire to escape pain, physical or emotional, with drug use.
Life Changes
Even if they’re positive, big changes like a new job, relationship, or a big move can trigger anxiety and contribute to a mental relapse. They may want to take drugs or alcohol to cope with the anxiety or fear of the change.
It’s important for the person in recovery and their loved ones to discuss potential triggers. Everyone’s recovery process is different and may even include unique triggers to the individual.
If you or a loved one relapses or appears to be at risk of relapse, the most important thing to do is seek help. In some cases, it may be necessary to return to treatment programs to get more guidance and develop a new strategy for identifying and understanding triggers.
Addressing Drug Addiction Relapse Triggers
Knowing what will be a trigger is a big part of addressing relapse triggers. When you know what you’re facing, you can take steps to resist temptation. Here are some ways to address addiction relapse triggers.
Develop New Coping Mechanisms and Alternate Behaviors
Having healthy alternatives to undesirable behaviors is a good way to combat temptation at the moment and remind yourself why you’re in recovery. For example, jogging, exercising, reading, or painting can be useful hobbies to quiet and redirect your mind when you’re tempted. These activities also provide a new outlet for stress and negative emotions that may have contributed to drug use in the past.
Build a Strong Support System with Ongoing Therapy or Counseling
Develop a strong support system with healthy relationships with family and friends. Ongoing therapy and counseling sessions can sharpen your relapse prevention and stress management skills, and you have a safe place to address triggers and develop tailored prevention strategies.
Learn New Stress Management Techniques and Mindfulness Practices
Stress management techniques are often part of recovery, but you or your loved one may need more robust practices to prevent relapse. Mindfulness and meditation are two of the most effective coping strategies for managing addiction triggers.
Mindfulness encourages focus on the present moment to reduce stress, increase emotional regulation, and improve concentration. Meditation focuses on quieting the mind for better clarity, insight, and serenity. Combined, these two practices can help you gain a greater awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and behavioral patterns to address relapse triggers.
Plan for Challenging Environments or Situations
Anticipate environments or situations with relapse triggers, such as a bar or social gathering. For some people, relapse triggers may be in high-stress situations like starting a new job. It’s essential to be prepared for these relapse triggers with coping strategies. You may even want to bring someone along with you for support and accountability.
Relapse triggers can vary from person to person, so it’s essential to understand your triggers and develop strategies to address them.
Preventing Relapse and Promoting Lasting Recovery
Recovering from drug addiction is a life-changing journey for many people, but relapse triggers are often part of that journey. Stress, people and places, loneliness, or big life changes can bring on intense memories and cravings to use drugs – and that can look different for everyone.
Having ongoing support from a network of family and friends, attending therapy sessions, and practicing self-care like meditation and mindfulness can go a long way. If you or your loved one need more support, outpatient treatment programs offer professional guidance to identify, address, and resist possible triggers for long-term sobriety.
Getting Help to Tackle Drug Addiction Relapse Triggers
A personalized strategy for addressing relapse triggers and prevention is the key to success. But once you find the proper support and resources, you can get back on the path of lasting recovery with a renewed sense of resolve. If you need more support in your recovery journey, contact us at Desert Cove Recovery to speak to one of our compassionate team members.
