Or, when you’re out having fun with your friends, you may feel confident and in control, so you may permit yourself to smoke marijuana because you convince yourself that you deserve it. After transitioning out of rehab and heading back home or into a sober internal and external triggers living program, every individual in recovery will encounter several triggers that can cause a relapse. For example, if you used drugs every time you were with a specific group of people, you might feel triggers whenever you’re in the same social situation.

• While taking care of ourselves, and by understanding sure signs, we can prevent relapse.
• Additionally, some recovering addicts use a relationship as their new addiction.
• While many triggers can be negative experiences, it is important to note that positive events can trigger relapsing as well.
• The inclusion of holistic therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, journaling, meditation, and others can help recovering addicts focus on their well-being.
• This dimension addresses many aspects of relapse, including external and internal cues.

During the initial phases of your recovery, free time may prompt your mind to wander towards thoughts of using. When you’re bored, you may imagine what a great time you would be having if you used. Banish this temptation by staying as busy as possible—structure your time and fill it with the healthy activities that reflect the abstinent individual you’re becoming. Drugs and alcohol are often used to self-medicate mental illness and mask negative emotions. The correlation between mental health and addiction has been studied extensively, with addiction treatment facilities now offering dual diagnosis programs. When a dual diagnosis is apparent, mental health and addiction specialists must address both the addiction and mental illness in order to ensure a long, healthy and happy recovery.

Can I Use the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to Go to Drug Rehab?

Other people may use drugs when they feel angry, lonely, depressed, sad, or bored – but any feeling can become an internal trigger. If you do relapse because of your triggers, using substances can be deadly. You might go straight to the dose that you’re accustomed to, but your body can no longer handle the same levels of drugs. For example, powdered sugar can elicit an urge for drugs in someone who used cocaine. A study from Marquette University pointed out that stress rendered people in recovery more vulnerable to other relapse triggers.

Mindfulness is a practice that encourages focus on the present moment and can help to reduce stress, improve concentration and increase emotional regulation. Meditation is a practice of focusing on quieting the mind to cultivate clarity, serenity, and insight. By becoming aware of the environment or people that increase the risk of using or craving, a person can create boundaries to reduce temptation. Taking the time to identify and recognize high-risk situations can help individuals stay safer on their road to recovery.

Social Isolation

This includes thinking about using drugs or alcohol, fantasizing about the euphoric effects of an intoxicant, and planning how and when it could be used without getting caught. It is important to practice self-care by engaging in healthy activities such as exercise and meditation to reduce the risk of relapse due to emotional addiction triggers. Building a solid support system with friends and family who understand your recovery journey is also beneficial. A relapse prevention plan also puts clear plans into place to address drug and alcohol use if it happens.