7 Common Addiction Relapse Triggers and Warning Signs

These treatments act slowly to help prevent drug cravings and have a calming effect on body systems. They can help patients focus on counseling and other psychotherapies related to their drug treatment. Keep in mind that while these are popular coping mechanisms, they might not work for everyone. Take the time to figure out what works best for you as part of your personal recovery journey. Many situations may be high-risk for one person and fine for another. The important thing is to recognize situations that cause stress and prepare strategies to mitigate it.

Remove addictive substances from your home, stay away from bars, and steer clear of situations where you know drugs or alcohol will be present. Most people who decide to quit using drugs or drinking try and fail numerous times before achieving full recovery from their addiction.

Emotional Relapse Triggers

Being the first point of contact for women seeking aftercare for their recovery in alcohol and drug addiction; I am driven & passionate about helping them with their next steps. I have always been passionate about helping others & this position allows me to see those dreams come to life. Williams addiction began at an early age and followed a slow and steady progression.

When an addicted person uses drugs or alcohol for a prolonged period of time, it changes the brain—eventually associating certain stimuli with the desire to drink or do drugs. Behavioral therapies help people in drug addiction treatment modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use. As a result, patients are able to handle stressful situations and various triggers that might cause another relapse.

Situations That Trigger Relapses

Although relapse is common, it’s not inevitable, especially during seasons of stress. The best way to overcome relapse triggers during the holiday season is to prepare yourself for the upcoming events, places and things that could spur the urge to use drugs or alcohol. When you start your mental health recovery, you make a lot of big changes.

Set yourself up for success by creating a relaxing nightly routine that promotes a restful slumber. 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. Have a support system of family, friends, and loved ones who will stand by you when you need help. These kinds of positive influences will decrease your likelihood of relapsing. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will also keep you in a routine and make you less likely to stray into negative habits. In the event of a positive life change, be sure to plan ahead of time how you’ll celebrate so you can without drugs or alcohol. Exciting life-events like starting a new job or a new romantic relationship can be a trigger as these, however positive, also hold the potential for added pressures and stress.

Relapse Warning Signs

Instead of allowing the trigger to overcome you, talk to yourself logically. Explain to yourself that you recognize the trigger, you’re taking steps to remove yourself from the situation and you don’t allow the trigger to have any power over you. Relapse is often viewed as the result of a sudden impulse, but there is actually types of relapse triggers a litany of warning signs that can show when someone is at escalating risk of using drugs or alcohol again. Relapse can be divided into three stages, each with specific signs. Michelle has been a part of the Anchored Tides family since 2018. Michelle is an empathetic individual who finds connection with each client.

• It is important for the addict, family members and loved ones to be prepared for this.
• External triggers are often easier to identify, as they are people, places, things and activities that make someone want to use drugs or alcohol again.
• Becca is passionate about helping women realize their worth and supporting/helping them navigate the next steps of their lives, all while helping them feel secure on their road to long-term recovery.
• Understanding what triggers you to relapse and having a plan in place for these triggers are your first steps toward prevention.
• Stress, in all its many shapes and forms, runs rife throughout recovery as a relapse trigger.

These need to be people that you’ll feel comfortable calling on if you encounter one of your triggers out in the world and need someone to talk to as a tool to help prevent relapse. Avoiding triggers is only one part of the puzzle when it comes to addiction and recovery. As we’ve mentioned a few times, it’s important to learn healthy coping mechanisms to help you handle yourself if you happen to encounter one of your triggers while you’re out in the world. Avoiding all of your triggers isn’t always an option, but running into one when you’re going about your daily business doesn’t necessarily have to trigger a relapse. Here’s a quick rundown of some of our favorite coping mechanisms. For many people, drug and alcohol use began as a way to alleviate boredom or make certain activities feel more fun.

Romantic Relationships

Living sober involves switching up how you spend your time, and it may also include learning who your real friends are. Some people make the mistake of going back to bars or hanging out with friends who continue to drink or use. Some of the boundaries that you’re going to have to set are with your friends as well as yourself in order to maintain your recovery. Your support system is one of the most important influences in your addiction recovery. If you isolate yourself from friends, family, and others in your support system, it becomes easy for you to rationalize your substance abuse and increases the chances of redeveloping substance dependence. Keeping in regular contact with your counselor or sponsor can help you avoid this relapse trigger. This may come as a surprise, but being overconfident during your recovery is actually a huge relapse risk.

• In order to stay sober, it’s important to assess your life and make the right changes so you can prevent relapse.
• Whether you are an occasional consumer of alcohol, a daily heavy drinker, or fall somewhere in-between, you should be concerned about the impact that alcohol is having on your physical health.
• Never forget that you can reach out, whether by going to a 12-step meeting, contacting your sponsor, or meeting one of your sober friends.
• This will help you not to feel so alone and you can talk through the issue.
• Both chronic and acute stressincrease the risk of drug addictionand may be the most common triggers for relapse.

Therapy can help people overcome the cognitive challenge of acknowledging the difficulty of recovery but realizing that sustaining an addiction is far harder. It’s not just negative events that can result in addiction relapse triggers.