Recovering from addiction often involves negotiating a few bumps in the road. It is fairly common for someone to relapse at least once during their recovery process.
Preventing Relapse
Getting the right support from start to finish, such as aftercare for men to help maintain a sober living lifestyle, is absolutely crucial. It can also help you to stay on track by recognizing the triggers that are signaling a potential relapse.
Here is a look at the key pointers to be mindful of.
Feeling stressed?
One of the primary triggers that lead to relapse is stress. When you are feeling stressed it can often exaggerate your feelings of wanting to seek comfort in the form of drugs or alcohol.
Addictive feelings are heightened when you are feeling stressed. Although it is not always possible to eliminate stress completely from your life, if you can find a way to manage your feelings it will help reduce the prospect of a potential relapse.
Simple techniques such as mindfulness and learning how to listen to what your mind and body are telling you will put you in greater control of your levels of stress.
Association with people or places that remind you of your addictive issues
We all tend to have people or places in our life that remind us of certain things or events. Not all of those associations are positive. If you come into contact with someone who influences your addictive personality triggers it can increase your chances of falling into relapse.
A typical scenario would be when you are invited out for a drink with friends. If you are a recovering alcoholic that can be challenging. Prepare for these situations and anticipate your reaction by developing some coping strategies.
Happy moments can also be a trigger
Celebrating milestone events and birthdays are all part of life. However, they can be challenging when you are trying to recover from addiction.
A classic trait that would be typical of many who struggle with addiction would be to lose your ability to regulate your drinking at times of celebration. You may have to avoid these situations for a while if you know you are at risk of a relapse.
Coming into contact with the root cause of your addiction
If you are trying to quit smoking, for instance, the sight or smell of a cigarette could be enough to tempt you to have one. It is that same line of thought that could prove to be a trigger for your addiction.
Coming into contact with the sight or smell of addiction could be the catalyst for relapse. Try to be mindful of this danger.
Experiencing negative emotions
When you are experiencing negative or challenging emotional feelings it can be a trigger for relapse.
Addictive behaviors can seem like they are providing relief from negative emotions.
The goal should be to try and learn how to become more comfortable and in control of the moments when you experience negative emotions.
The key to achieving sobriety and leaving your addiction behind is learning how to recognize and combat each of these potential triggers. It also helps greatly when you can get the professional support and guidance you often need in these challenging circumstances.
