If you’ve already embarked on the road to recovery, trying to remain sober may prove to be difficult. This period can be particularly challenging if you’re just beginning your time in recovery. Relapse can be part of the recovery process for some individuals, but you may not want that to be part of your story. If you learn about the potential triggers of drug abuse, you may be able to avoid them in the long run because you’re prepared with techniques to cope with them. To learn more about avoiding potential relapse triggers, reach out to our drug addiction treatment center today at 877.978.1667.
Potential Triggers of Drug Abuse
If you’re new to the recovery journey or if you’ve recently experienced relapse, you’re not alone. Research shows that a significant number of people who have gone through addiction treatment will relapse within the first year of sobriety. However, you can maintain your sobriety by paying attention and avoiding potential triggers of drug abuse.
1. Emotional Highs and Lows
Many people attempt to mask their negative emotions by using drugs during an addiction. Learning to cope with these emotional highs and lows is a fundamental skill that you will learn during drug addiction treatment. A range of evidence-based and holistic therapy options can help you manage these challenges, giving you the life skills you need to say sober for longer periods of time.
2. Letting Your Self-Care Go
Practicing self-care is critical to maintaining your sobriety. If you’re hungry, lonely, angry, or tired, you may be at a higher risk of relapsing and using drugs again. Listen to these bodily urges, and, if you’re experiencing them, have an action plan to resolve them. For instance, you may want to set aside specific snacks for when you get hungry or develop a sleep routine to ensure you’re getting enough sleep. You may also want to talk to friends or family to help you understand why you may be feeling lonely or angry.
3. Getting Involved in Relationships
Many recovery groups suggest that people avoid getting involved in romantic relationships during the first year of recovery. Even if the relationship is casual, they can prove to triggers for drug addiction. Addiction is a disease that preys on emotion, and new relationships bring new emotions into play. As a result, the relationship may replace the substance the woman was dependent on, leading to a new dependency. Rather than investing your energy into a new relationship, focus on putting new, healthy coping mechanisms into place so that you’re ready when you do get involved with a new partner.
4. Times of Celebration
Today, celebrations such as birthday and holidays may involve drug use, particularly if your friends and family members are also addicted to drugs. In addition, professional events, such as promotions and happy hours, may cause you to want to use drugs again. You may not be able to realistically skip all of these events, but you can put coping mechanisms into place, such as:
- Planning your own sober events
- Using relaxation techniques to get you through the stress
- Asking a friend to go with you to reduce the temptation
- Plan an escape route so you can leave once you’ve had enough
Contact Crossroads Maine
At Crossroads Maine, we provide drug addiction treatment to women from all walks of life. We also provide methods of dealing with triggers of drug addiction. We offer a range of therapeutic options, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
To learn more about how to manage the drugs of drug addiction, reach out to Crossroads Maine today at 877.978.1667 or by filling out our convenient form.
