Avoiding Drug Relapse Triggers After Drug Rehab
There are as many triggers to relapse after drug rehab as there are people currently enrolled in drug and alcohol addiction treatment. It can be as simple as the mention of a certain drug or the description of using it or what it’s like under the influence. For others, visual triggers like seeing someone use in a movie is enough where others must see it in person to feel like they want to get high or get drunk. Being offered something to drink can trigger the desire to use, even if alcoholism isn’t the main problem.
Emotional triggers are a huge issue as well, even if you spent a great deal of time in drug rehab addressing the issues that first made you seek escape in drugs and alcohol. Reminders of negative incidents in the past or uncomfortable emotions are difficult for everyone and for those who struggle with addiction issues, the first reaction may be to get drunk or high.
The sheer number of relapse triggers is why so many relapse even after successfully completing a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program. So how do you avoid relapse when you’re faced with a trigger?
Avoiding Relapse After Drug Rehab: Get. Out.
The best first way to avoid relapse after drug rehab: take yourself out of the situation. If you feel vulnerable or unsafe in any way no matter what the situation, get out. It’s easy enough if it’s a movie you’re watching: just turn the channel or leave the theater. But what about when it’s a more difficult situation, like roommates who use or have guests who get loaded in front of you? What if your trigger is emotional, just feeling stressed out, getting bad news or having problems with a relationship?
Though not easy to deal with, the answer is the same: If you live with people who are using around you or who often have people over who use despite your sensitivity to the situation, find a new place to live. If you work with people who are using around you, find a new job as soon as you can. If you are in a relationship that stresses you out to the point that you want to relapse, get out of the relationship. Though you can’t control what happens, you can protect yourself and control your reaction to the situation.
In the Meantime…
Getting out may not be as simple as walking away. It may take time for you to find a new job, a new home, new places to hang out, new friends. What do you do in the meantime? Though you may not be able to squash the trigger permanently-and really, that will never happen-you can always remove yourself from the situation for the moment. If you can’t leave the building for whatever reason, go to another room or step outside, put on headphones to drown out the conversation, go online. Reach out to a sponsor or go to a meeting for support. If you can leave the physical presence of the people or situation that is causing you stress, just take a walk or head out to a coffee shop, window shopping, anything to put some space between you and anything that could interfere with your recovery.
What are your triggers? What tempts you to relapse? How do you avoid temptation?