Author: John Carter

Relapse Triggers People, Places & Things Causing Cravings

But whether it’s a one-time event or a series of traumatic events, trauma affects each person differently. In fact, the same event could cause two people to respond completely differently. While one person might reach a point of acceptance about an unsettling experience, the other person might develop PTSD. If you experienced a traumatic event, you likely remember certain sounds, smells, or sights related to that experience.

Types of Addiction Relapse Triggers

During therapy for people experiencing emotional relapse, patients are encouraged to identify their denial and focus on self-care. In rats and humans, the hormone corticosterone increases the level of dopamine, a brain chemical that plays a major role in reward-seeking behavior, in the brain in response to stress. The Marquette researchers stated a stressed animal previously exposed to cocaine will crave the drug because the dopamine surge from cocaine trumps the release of stress-related dopamine. Researchers deduced that the amygdala played an important role in producing focused and exclusive desire, similar to drug addiction. Internal triggers act in reverse, associating these signals to the substances that elicit them.

How to Identify and Cope With Your PTSD Triggers

1. Triggers that happen outside of the individual are not necessarily beyond control.
2. The negative side effects of relapsing after enrolling in drug and alcohol recovery programs is another concern.
3. Often a place may trigger a memory of an event, or smelling something, such as a particular cologne, may trigger your memory of a loved relative.
4. In early recovery, boredom and social isolation can be powerful triggers for relapse.
5. Emotions that act as internal triggers can be negative, positive, or neutral.

But this is because the triggered individual is mentally reliving the original trauma. For example, a person with contamination-type OCD might be triggered by the sight of a dirty doorknob and react with extreme fear. Or a person with alcohol use disorder might be triggered by the smell of alcohol and suddenly start craving a drink. Or perhaps you live with substance use disorder, where the smell of alcohol or a certain scene can trigger your symptoms.

Exposure to Substances

The solution to overcoming this relapse trigger is to learn how to channel your positive feelings in a positive way, without the use of substance abuse. When people in recovery succumb to triggers, their brains create reasons to use substances despite knowing that they must remain abstinent. This ongoing fight increases their vulnerability to cravings, which may result in a potential relapse.

They are ashamed of the last time they relapsed and may have developed negative behaviors to cope with their thoughts. This state of mind is dangerous because it encourages bad health practices that can eventually lead to a full-blown relapse. A study from Marquette University pointed out that stress rendered people in recovery more vulnerable to other relapse triggers. Researchers followed the cocaine use patterns of stressed and unstressed rats and used a low dose of cocaine as a trigger.

Therefore, before you take steps to identify your triggers, ensure you have a safety plan in place in case you experience some distress. You can do this process on your own, but working with a mental health professional can be helpful. Your therapist can help you figure out your triggers and come up with a plan for how to deal with your PTSD symptoms.

Internal Triggers

Another potential benefit is that these warnings can help improve individual empowerment, allowing people to make informed choices about how they engage with information. Some people cope with stressful events more easily than others; consider the impact such events might have on people with mental illnesses. When stress levels rise, the brain’s prefrontal cortex, responsible for cognitive control and stress regulation, is inhibited, making it harder to manage impulses and make informed decisions. While some people may not understand your actions, over time they will have to learn how to respect your choices.

Trigger warnings are used in other settings, too, such as in the media. Triggers vary widely from person to person and can be internal or external. Seeking professional help when faced with challenges during your recovery journey is paramount. Therapy, counseling, and support groups are all great resources to help you on your path to recovery, offering essential tools and resources needed to maintain sobriety. Major life changes, like moving to a new city, beginning a new job, getting married, or experiencing the loss of a loved one, can have a powerful effect on relapse rates for those struggling with addiction. These changes can cause stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, which can lead to cravings and make it harder for individuals to cope with their addiction.

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. If you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Others may casually say they’re triggered anytime something angers or upsets them, further causing the word to lose its meaning. A person can find alternative routes to avoid high-risk places, such as places where they used to meet their dealers or bars where they used to binge drink. Triggers are sensory reminders that cause painful memories or certain symptoms to resurface. McGeehan also recommends grounding techniques, including square breathing or finger breathing, to help people return to the present moment when a trigger strikes them.

Situations That Trigger Relapses

People at risk of a relapse should avoid stressful situations that are likely to push them to use drugs and alcohol. Luckily, by recognizing trauma triggers and developing coping strategies, you can live a normal life after trauma. Since trauma triggers are not always obvious, you may not realize what is triggering the feelings or memories of trauma. To help determine the cause of these feelings, you can think about what typically happens when you experience PTSD.

This could include avoiding certain people or places or engaging in activities that help to distract. Proactively avoiding high-risk situations and staying away from reminders of past substance use is key to minimizing the risk of relapse due to exposure to substances. By being aware of your triggers and taking conscious actions to limit your exposure, you can stay on the path of recovery.