Completing rehab is just the first step in your recovery from drugs and alcohol. Chances are, you will encounter people, places, or situations that trigger your addiction. To keep from drinking or retaking drugs, you will need to develop strategies for avoiding relapse triggers. You may have learned many of these strategies in your substance abuse treatment program.
Learning to avoid relapse triggers in GA treatment centers is key to maintaining a sustainable recovery. During therapy, you understand how negative thoughts and behaviors led to your drinking and how you respond to certain situations in your life. You also develop skills that help you overcome your triggers to stay on the path to recovery at Atlanta Detox Center.
Tips for Avoiding Relapse Triggers
One of the most common relapse triggers is social gatherings. This can range from weddings and anniversaries to holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Celebrations can bring out emotions like the same emotions you had when you were drinking or taking drugs. You may also be in situations where alcohol is present.
One of the best ways to avoid triggers is to stay in control of the situation. For instance, make sure you have an escape plan if you show up and alcohol is present. Provide your transportation to social events or sign up for an Uber or Lyft account so that you can make a quick escape if necessary. Ask questions about the event in advance and whether drugs, alcohol or other triggers may be present.
Mental Health Disorders
Your individual therapy program may have included dual diagnosis and treatment for co-occurring disorders. Common disorders associated with addiction include anxiety, depression, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, or bipolar disorder. If these disorders are left untreated, you could relapse after you complete your rehab.
Your disorder may be keeping you from avoiding relapse triggers. So, if you have a mental health issue, make sure you tell your treatment specialist during your assessment. By treating addiction’s underlying causes, you are more likely to manage your symptoms and overcome substance abuse.
Negative Home Environment
One of the most difficult things to overcome in addiction is living in a negative or volatile home environment. There may be an addiction in your family or alcohol or drugs present in the home. There may also be a challenging situation such as abuse, financial problems, or lack of support for your recovery. If so, being in this type of environment every day increases the risk of relapse.
If you feel that avoiding relapse triggers is almost impossible around your family, you may want to consider other alternatives such as:
- Living with other family members
- Staying at a sober living house
- Participating in a family therapy program
- Setting boundaries before coming home
- Getting addiction treatment for a loved one
If possible, try to resolve all family issues before completing your program at the drug and alcohol detox center. When you return home, avoiding relapse triggers becomes more attainable.
Negative or Challenging Emotions
Succeeding at your recovery does not change challenging situations at work, home, or school. You will still be faced with conflict or stress from time to time. If you struggle with an addiction, you need to learn effective ways to manage and make sense of your negative feelings or challenging emotions. Instead of turning to drugs or alcohol when you become anxious or depressed, try to apply what you learned in your individual therapy program.
First, own your negative feelings. Second, use mindfulness or meditation to manage your feelings. You can practice mindfulness as you experience a challenging situation. View each situation as an opportunity to develop your coping skills and overcome your negative thinking.
Get Help for Addiction at Atlanta Detox Center
If you would like to learn more about avoiding relapse triggers or need help with addiction, contact Atlanta Detox Center at 470.450.2355. We offer a variety of addiction treatment therapies for all types of conditions. You can learn to avoid relapse triggers in GA with the help of our treatment specialists.
