Internal and External Triggers: Comprehensive Guide to Triggers

Once you understand how to recognize your relapse triggers, there are ways to minimize and cope with them. To learn more about our outpatient programs, contact our admissions department today. Often, relapse will be preceded by a trigger that causes someone to start thinking about relapsing or creates a craving for a substance that was previously used. These triggers can be difficult to recognize and can completely disrupt a recovery if they lead to relapse.

• Recognizing and understanding our triggers can significantly improve our emotional well-being.
• One of the cornerstones of treatment options for addiction recovery is education about triggers and healthy ways to cope with them.
• The specific types and amount of triggers that each individual experiences depend on many factors.
• Therefore, providing emotional tools to manage high-risk situations is essential in preventing relapse.
• This can be anything from certain social situations, responsibilities, and even specific places that trigger your desire to use again.

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For those going through treatment or who are otherwise in active recovery, understanding relapse triggers is vital. No matter what stage of recovery someone is in, there will always be the risk of relapse due to exposure to internal and external triggers. Internal and external triggers are the factors that can induce an individual to want to use or otherwise create a temptation in them to use their drug of choice again. Individuals with problematic triggers may not know the cause and can benefit from therapy. Therapy or treatment for distressing triggers can reduce the likelihood of one developing troubling compulsions and chemical use disorders. Therapists in rehab facilities can offer individuals tools and ideas that can be helpful while battling troubling emotions and compulsions.

When you can clearly define what drives the desire to use drugs or alcohol, you can protect yourself from them. This may involve staying away from certain people and places, attending extra meetings or participating in an outpatient program. External triggers involve conditions or environments that can prompt substance use. They are external factors or situations that remind one of past behaviors. Internal triggers refer to emotional or psychological states that evoke thoughts or cravings related to substance use.

If you or a loved one has experienced a relapse, or are just considering treatment options, we are here to help you. Though commonly used to refer to the experiences of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the term “trigger” can also be used in the context of other mental health illnesses. This includes substance use disorders, eating Sober Houses Rules That You Should Follow disorders, and anxiety.

Dealing with triggers in recovery can be challenging, but don’t worry! We have these six valuable tips that will help you navigate your journey towards long-term sobriety. Get you or your loved one help for addiction or mental health issues today. With time, awareness, and coping strategies, some triggers may lose their power, while new ones might emerge.

McGeehan also recommends grounding techniques, including square breathing or finger breathing, to help people return to the present moment when a trigger strikes them.

Additionally, individuals who suffer chemical use disorders can find help to decrease the risk of a relapse. Cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals control their impulses, which can lower compulsions. Negative feelings that could be triggers include depression, anxiety, anger, boredom, and loneliness. It’s important to understand these personal triggers and develop strategies to manage them. One reason is that it can be difficult to avoid social pressure in these settings. It is also easy to relapse when you are surrounded by people who are using drugs or alcohol.

Have You Ever Experienced Any Of These Relapse Triggers In Your Life

The stressed rats’ responses to the trigger mirrored those of people during relapse. It’s important for people in recovery to be aware of the internal triggers they struggle with the most and have a plan in place to seek support when needed. While holidays are a time of celebration for some, they may be a struggle for people in recovery.

For Loved Ones

However, Mezulis notes that even people without a history of trauma can be triggered when something elicits a strong emotional reaction. Feeling triggered isn’t just about something rubbing you the wrong way. For someone with a history of trauma, being around anything that reminds them of a traumatic experience can make them feel like they’re experiencing the trauma all over again. Research suggests that people who have used drugs in order to mitigate stress in the past are likely to return to this behavior when future stressors arise. This would suggest that someone in recovery could be prone to relapse due to an elevated level of stress in life.

This encourages detaching from painful or distressing experiences and can reduce stress. Healthy ways of managing triggers allows individuals to thrive without turning to damaging coping mechanisms that can harm them or others. Managing our emotions is a vital part of self-healing, especially for those of us who have dealt with trauma. Recognizing and understanding our triggers can significantly improve our emotional well-being. Today, we’ll explore the differences between external and internalized triggers, and how each affects us. By the end of this blog, you’ll have a clearer understanding of these concepts and practical tips for managing them.

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• By developing these skills, individuals can better navigate their emotional landscape, reduce the power of internal triggers, and ultimately support their journey to lasting recovery.
• You might need to find alternative places to hang out or take time away from the family for self-care on a regular basis.
• A study from Marquette University pointed out that stress rendered people in recovery more vulnerable to other relapse triggers.
• By pinpointing and cataloging what personally affects you, you’re arming yourself with invaluable knowledge.
• There are multiple reminders of substance use in a former drug user’s life, including people, places and things.
• There are many different situations that could trigger addiction relapse.

External relapse triggers come from the “outside,” meaning people, places and situations. When you encounter these factors, they can cause you to crave drugs or alcohol. The best way to avoid these triggers is by creating a structured routine that keeps you busy without feeling stressed. A healthy routine includes a strong support system, a sober living environment, and healthy activities. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

What Are Relapse Triggers: Internal Vs External Relapse Triggers

Recognizing external triggers is the first step toward managing them. This involves being mindful of one’s surroundings and understanding how different elements in the environment might affect their state of mind and emotional balance. Therefore, it’s essential to develop coping https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/addiction/sober-houses-rules-that-you-should-follow/ methods that allow you to work through your triggers without resorting to drugs.

Depending on his or her involvement in family conflict, he or she may feel afraid, lash out as a defense mechanism, or distance him or herself from conflict. Understanding the difference between external and internalized triggers is a crucial step in managing your emotional health. By recognizing and addressing these triggers, you can improve your ability to live in the present and create a more balanced life. Identifying these internalized events requires self-reflection and sometimes professional help. Try writing down your feelings and the situations where they arise.

• Trigger warnings are used in other settings, too, such as in the media.
• Click Here to find a therapist or find out more about who we are, where we come from, and how we live out CARE’s mission every day.
• Triggers refer to the experience of having an emotional reaction to a disturbing topic (such as violence or the mention of suicide) in the media or a social setting.
• The Feeling Expert is licensed to provide in-person, online video or phone holistic psychotherapy and mental health counseling throughout the state of Florida.
• These desires often come from certain triggers, such as the people you surround yourself with and the feelings you experience.

At the Massachusetts Center for Addiction, we provide personalized, comprehensive treatment programs. We understand that each individual has unique needs, and we offer a variety of treatments, including partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). It often starts with strong emotions that make you neglect your physical and psychological well-being. Then, you might begin to justify why and how you can use again in a more controlled way. Contact a treatment provider today to find your way to peace and sobriety.