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. Recognition and avoidance of potential triggers will be a key part of any recovery process.

When you are exposed to a potential trigger, the cravings will pass within a few hours if you resist the urge to relapse. Having a plan to get through times when your cravings are triggered will be very helpful in avoiding a relapse. Everyone will have different internal triggers, but by recognizing some of the common ones you will be better equipped to avoid or address your internal triggers. Both types of triggers present unique challenges that can derail a recovery process. Understanding how these triggers affect you is vital to avoid potential relapse.

External Trigger vs. Internal Trigger: Why We Act

Holistic treatment methods focus on the entire person and not just the addiction. Although relapse can be a part of the recovery process for some people, addiction treatment programs and personalized recovery support resources can drastically reduce relapse rates. In this stage, you are battling yourself, constantly fighting an inner war between not using and using. You might begin bargaining with yourself, replacing one substance with another or you might begin to rationalize the use of drugs and alcohol by minimizing the consequences.

Many people in recovery from substance use disorder learn the tools to manage stressful triggers and go on to lead balanced, fulfilling lives. Individuals develop new thoughts, feelings and behaviors while using substances. These may include shutting family off, denying issues or justifying substance use. Healthier practices need to replace these negative internal processes in order to help people succeed in their path to a substance-free life. Recovering individuals can carry out personal exercises where they make a list of the people, places and things that remind them of their substance-using life. Asking certain questions about external triggers can help prevent relapse.

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You may think of this as being proactive in your recovery and being prepared if a trigger happens (and sooner or later it will). You have steps already in place to deal with it in positive ways other than using again. Emotional triggers are often tricky for someone recovering from addiction to deal with because that person often used substances to cope, or to try to forget these emotions. In the case of someone recovering from substance abuse disorders, a trigger is anything that makes the person want to use again. Triggers are unique to every person, and there is no one trigger that will affect everyone the same.

• Triggers are anything that might cause a person to recall a traumatic experience they’ve had.
• Beyond cravings, this can also lead to a longing for the environment or lifestyle that you left and does not provide the same recall for the reasons that you initially sought recovery.
• Many people find that visiting certain places causes intense triggering in them.
• They contain information on what the user should do next, like app notifications prompting users to return to see a photo.
• It might not be enough to eat food, but to also eat food with nutritional value.

When they don’t immediately come back in, the person goes outside and hears their mother screaming. There’s no doubt these topics can be unpleasant, offensive, or distasteful. But it’s important to understand the distinction between discomfort and trauma. It may bring up specific thought patterns or influence your behavior. At some point in the last few years, you’ve likely seen the phrase “trigger warning” or abbreviation “TW” online, or heard someone say they were “triggered” by something.

Risk Factors

Beyond cravings, this can also lead to a longing for the environment or lifestyle that you left and does not provide the same recall for the reasons that you initially sought recovery. Contact a treatment provider today to find your way to peace and sobriety. Join the thousands of people that have called a treatment provider for rehab information. Whether internal trigger examples designing customer behaviors or your own habits, you’ll benefit from understanding the research I share from user experience design, behavioral economics, and neuroscience. For example, do your fingers twitch when you’re about to be distracted? Do you get a flurry of butterflies in your stomach when you think about work when you’re with your kids?

• Triggers are social, environmental or emotional situations that remind people in recovery of their past drug or alcohol use.
• It can be challenging to identify what exactly those triggers are, but the process of getting to know and understand them can help us heal and learn how to cope better in response.
• Fear, guilt, shame, anger and depression are common internal triggers.
• This isn’t an exhaustive list, but descriptions of any of the above could contribute to upsetting memories or flashbacks if you’ve had a traumatic experience related to any of these things.
• With strong ties to Victory Christian Church and the 12-step community, Federico shares an amazing personal story of redemption and long-term recovery.
• This reminder can help you take back control and actively choose another response, such as briefly summarizing the book or following up with a question about what they’re reading.
• Let’s talk about triggers and explain why identifying them is vital to the recovery process.

These psychological triggers can involve anything from self-doubt and fear of failure to feelings of worthlessness or shame. Psychological triggers often go hand-in-hand with emotional triggers as they stem from the exact root cause – unresolved trauma or stress. When it comes down to situations, everyone handles adversity differently. While some people manage difficult situations with ease, people in recovery can easily slip back into old habits when dealing with new situations. For instance, the death of a loved one can easily trigger a relapse in a recovering addict.