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5 Tips for Managing Triggers During Substance Abuse Recovery

  • November 23, 2015
  • By Grace
  • 0 Comments
5 Tips for Managing Triggers During Substance Abuse Recovery

If you’re trying to recover from substance abuse, you’ll need to figure out how to manage the triggers that make you want to relapse. In doing so, you’ll be able to stay in control and stay clean.

Continue reading for a few helpful tips that will help you successfully manage your triggers and cravings while you’re recovering from substance abuse and addiction.

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1.      Recognize the Triggers

This isn’t as simple as it sounds, but recognizing your triggers is absolutely necessary if you want to be able to overcome them. Therefore, think about the places, people, social situations, and feelings that typically give you the desire to do drugs or drink alcohol. You may realize that there are certain triggers that you weren’t even aware of. But, ultimately, learning these triggers will help you recognize them, quell them, and avoid them.

2.      Take Good Care of Your Mind and Body

If you’re taking good care of yourself by sleeping enough, eating well, exercising, and being aware of your feelings, you’ll be better equipped to handle and overcome addiction triggers.

There are four things that are considered triggers for relapse: hunger, anger, loneliness, and fatigue. A good way to remember this is by thinking of H.A.L.T., which stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. If you start feeling any of these, you can immediately take action by getting back in control rather than allowing these triggers to adversely affect you. So, if you’re feeling hungry, have a snack or if you’re feeling tired, take a nap, as a couple of examples.

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3.      Don’t Push or Test Yourself

Once you know what your triggers are, don’t overstep your boundaries. Recognize those boundaries and honor them so that you can remain sober. If you put yourself into a situation that’s a known trigger, you’ll be putting yourself at greater risk of a relapse, and this simply isn’t worth it. Instead, find new ways to feel joy and have fun.

4.      Wait Out Urges

As you recover from your addiction, you will probably end up dealing with some pretty intense cravings, but it doesn’t mean that you have to give in to them. Instead, simply wait for them to subside. A lot of the urges that you get will actually go away on their own in about 15 minutes. Otherwise, you can remove yourself from any situation that is bringing triggers on.

5.      Take Advantage of Relapse Prevention Therapies

In addition to taking care of yourself, meditating, and living mindfully, another great way to learn how to manage your triggers is by participating in relapse prevention therapies, such as 12-stop and non-12-step programs. Talk to other people who are going through similar circumstances and learn the tools that you need to stay strong even when triggers take hold. Beachway’s substance abuse treatments are a good place to start for the relapse prevention therapies that can help you succeed.

With these tips in mind, you can manage triggers during substance abuse recovery and stay clean and sober.

By Grace, November 23, 2015
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