Recognizing Relapse Triggers
Relapse triggers are, unfortunately, present as you navigate those first steps newly recovered from addiction.
Relapse, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is considered “the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding; to slip or fall back into a former worse state.” This is because addiction is seen as a “chronic relapsing disorder,” a combination of a mental illness and brain disorder.
Some may think that relapse is more physical relapse, with the physical act of using a drug, taking a drink, or imbibing in addictive behavior. However, emotional relapse has just as much of an impact on your sobriety as physical relapse can. This is where noticing triggers is vital to your sobriety.
It is important to recognize that triggers precede a possible relapse of drugs and alcohol, so the best course of action is to take note of when triggers could occur and try to avoid those scenarios and situations. Whether it is seeing people who took part in your addictions, avoiding places where your addictions are served, to even monitoring movies or music that encourage addictive behavior, you can take the necessary steps to keep long-lasting recovery in your viewpoint.
If relapse were to occur, there are options for relapse prevention in Orange County to address what setbacks occurred and how to move forward again in your recovery process.