Triggers

What Is A Trigger?

A trigger is often something that brings up a memory related to drug or alcohol use, which leads the brain to anticipate a reward and causes a craving response. Triggers can be people, places, things, and even feelings.

The formal psychological definition of a trigger is a stimulus that elicits a reaction. In the case of addiction, the trigger is the stimulus that initiates a craving response in someone in recovery from a substance use disorder or behavioral addiction.

Common Triggers

Many things can serve as triggers for someone recovering from addiction, and each person’s triggers may be different.

Physical

Physical triggers can be people, places, or items that are associated with previous substance use. Avoiding physical triggers can be challenging for many people, especially if they are friends or family members.

Psychological And Emotional

There are many psychological impacts related to addiction and recovery. Emotions such as depression, stress, frustration, and anxiety may provoke a reflexive desire to use substances to relieve the discomfort of the emotion.

Environmental

The environment can play a significant role in an individual’s recovery. A dysfunctional or isolated living situation can trigger addiction memories, which can increase the risk of substance use. Even if the living situation is different, a person can be triggered by visiting an environment or even driving through a neighborhood that provokes addiction memories.

Behavioral

Certain behaviors and patterns may serve as triggers for substance use. These habits may vary from person to person and may include things like negative self-talk or thoughts of shame and guilt.

External Vs. Internal Triggers

Triggers can be internal or external. Physical and environmental triggers are more likely to be external in nature. These are the people, places, and situations that invoke addiction memories and elicit cravings that increase the risk of substance use and relapse.

Internal triggers are more likely to be emotional or behavioral. These may include feelings like:

Other internal triggers may include factors such as how safe the person feels in their environment or whether they feel judged, attacked, or invalidated.

How To Identify Triggers In Recovery

Each person has different addiction triggers, and identifying them is an essential part of maintaining recovery.

The process of identifying triggers generally starts while still in the addiction treatment setting. Addiction recovery counselors often help patients start to identify the triggers in their lives that have contributed to their addiction.

Identifying these triggers while in treatment enables the patient to develop a strategy for coping with them before they are faced with them. The counselor can help the patient develop a post-discharge plan for managing and avoiding them.

While each patient has their own unique triggers, there are many common relapse triggers. These include:

• Friends who use: Nothing threatens sobriety more than returning to social situations where drug and alcohol use are common.
• Extreme emotions: Strong emotional states such as depression, anxiety, stress, and frustration can cause a strong desire to use substances to soothe the emotional state.
• Living conditions: Returning to the same situation that may have contributed to the substance use to begin with can reactivate the behaviors and patterns that increase the risk of relapse.
• Social settings: Being in a setting where other people are using alcohol or drugs can be a risk factor for relapse.
• Deep-seated traumas: Dysfunctional family dynamics, childhood abuse, or trauma can cause coping mechanisms that lead to substance abuse.

Identifying triggers and developing a plan to cope with them is a key part of recovery success and preventing relapses.

How To Handle Them

Coping mechanisms can be healthy or unhealthy. For example, returning to substance use is an unhealthy coping mechanism.

Fortunately, there are healthy ways to cope with triggers, even the difficult ones. Like triggers, coping mechanisms are unique to the individual. But some coping mechanisms are commonly employed, including:

Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is regularly used in treatment for substance use disorders. It can be particularly helpful in identifying triggers, since this type of therapy focuses on identifying behaviors and thoughts that are unhelpful or even harmful. Once these thoughts and behaviors are identified, the therapist will work with the patient to find alternative ways to frame and cope with them. CBT may be a valuable tool for many individuals in recovery.

How To Avoid Triggers

Developing a plan for how to avoid addiction triggers is another cornerstone for recovery. Some may be easier to avoid, while others may be more difficult. For example, it can be difficult to avoid friends or family members who are part of your life. On the other hand, you may be able to change your route to work or explore new places to socialize with friends to avoid other addiction triggers.

Even with the best of plans, you may still encounter some triggers, so it’s important to have a plan in place for when you do.

What To Do If You Relapse

Recovery is a journey full of ups and downs, and relapse is common. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, up to 40-60% of people who seek substance use disorder treatment will experience a relapse.

Relapse doesn’t mean that you’ve failed or that your treatment has failed. It is an opportunity to revisit and revise your treatment plan. Addiction is a chronic condition, and treatment may need to be periodically adjusted.

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Get Back On Track

If your relapse is a one-time occurrence, seeing your counselor, sponsor, or talking with supportive members of your social circle can help you get back on track. If your drug use is ongoing or more significant, you may need to consider going back to rehab.

If you or a loved one is experiencing addiction or has relapsed, help is available. You can visit our rehab directory, where you can conveniently search by location, substance, and level of care, or contact a treatment provider to explore your rehab options.