It is quite common for those people who struggle with addiction to relapse at least one time during their recovery. Some people even experience relapse several times before they finally take the necessary steps to get sober. Understanding the triggers that might bring you back to relapse and having a plan in place to deal with these triggers are the first steps towards prevention. There are many different triggers you need to look out for. 
Stress is a Leading Cause of Relapse
Stress is the main cause of relapse. Many people who struggle with addiction often turn to their substance of choice as a way of coping with stress. There is an increased want for the drug of alcohol of choice during stressful situations, especially if drug use was the person’s primary coping mechanism. Bad financial situations or toxic relationships are just a few examples of stressful situations that lead people to turn back to drugs. It is vital to learn positive ways to manage the stress in your life. There are certain things you can do to manage or reduce the stress such as:
- Manage your time more efficiently to avoid operating in panic mode.
- Practice mindfulness and take time to relax
- Increase healthy behaviors by incorporating exercise and healthy eating habits
Reducing not only involves finding healthy ways to deal with the stress but also recognizing when you are in a stressful situation and doing something to deter it.
Places and People Connected to Your Addictive Behaviors
People with who you used to participate in addictive behaviors are also potential triggers for relapse. Family members can even be a triggering source for some people. The same is true with places that you used to use the drugs. When you are reminded of your addiction, it often becomes hard to resist the urges that come along with it. It is important to have operational ways of handling your feelings. For example, if you are an alcoholic and a group of your old drinking buddies as you to go out, it may help to have a specific response ready for those situations. It may also be beneficial to have a healthy activity in place to do instead such as seeing a movie, going for a run, having dinner with other sober friends, or reading a book.
Challenging Your Negative Emotions
Those who struggle with addiction have to have effective ways of tolerating, managing, and making send of feelings they encounter in their life. They may have used the drugs as a way to numb themselves from any feelings they felt before. Alcohol and drugs use to be a way to temporarily relieve themselves from the feelings, but the drugs can no longer be relied on anymore, which means you need to find new ways to cope with them. It is important to first know that those negative feelings do not have to be a sign of a relapse anymore. Take these emotions and use them as an opportunity for growing and understanding yourself. You can learn a lot by taking inventory of what you are feeling and why you feel it. Try things like journaling, meditating, and even praying. Finding healthy ways to release your negativity and boost your mood is important. Talking with a mental health professional can help you find additional ways to cope.
Understand What Triggers You
Understanding your triggers and finding ways to deal with them is all about protecting yourself and your recovery. Deciding to get sober and stay that way requires more than just taking away the drugs and alcohol. There are no downsides to understanding. By indulging in different coping mechanisms; you are setting yourself up for long-term success. Why not do everything you can do to be successful?
