What Does ‘Triggered’ Mean? Types of Triggers and How to Cope

This state of mind is dangerous because it encourages bad health practices that can eventually lead to a full-blown relapse. If you are starting to consider relapse, you may find that you are exposing yourself to possible triggers, even subconsciously. If you find yourself in high risk situations that could trigger a relapse, you should immediately reach out to someone that you can trust and who is supportive of your recovery.

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. Patients in rehab may consider skipping treatment sessions or support group meetings to spend time with their friends and family. A break in the routine may leave periods of isolation where patients may be inclined to use substances.

The Role of Emotions and Thoughts

With proper nutrition in hand, you can confront triggers and focus on developing a positive response. For example, a news report covering a trauma similar to what you experienced might trigger symptoms of PTSD. However, other cues are more subtle reminders that you might not even notice until after you’ve had a negative reaction. Mental relapse, or relapse justification, is the continuous fight between wanting to use and knowing you should not use. Individuals often underestimate the dangers of situations and fall into the trap of single-time use. They give themselves permission to use substances in a controlled way, but the frequency of use generally increases until they fully relapse.

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• Practicing mindfulness in recovery helps you develop the ability to stop, reflect, and choose how you want to react by shifting your focus inward.
• Instead, they argue that the emotions that arise from triggers should be appropriately dealt with in therapy, particularly if the feelings and resulting behaviors interfere with daily life.
• In order to ensure a happy and long-lasting recovery, addicts must identify both external and internal triggers.
• However, when you initiate this review, you have prepared yourself for whatever triggering material you may observe while reviewing it.
• Though commonly used to refer to the experiences of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the term «trigger» can also be used in the context of other mental health illnesses.

Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team. If you or someone you know may need help dealing with triggers, Agape offers an environment focused on recovery. To discuss treatment options, contact admissions today and speak with one of our local addiction experts. While some triggers may create a nearly-unavoidable craving, in many situations the trigger can be removed or escaped with enough time to stop potential use. Those who struggle with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder will sometimes find themselves thinking fondly about past use.

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For example, most celebrations involve substance use among-st friends and family. Therefore, if you’re in a drug and alcohol recovery stage,  this environment can inspire internal and external triggers you to feel celebratory and want to participate. Internal triggers are emotions, feelings, thoughts, and memories that make the person want to use alcohol or drugs.

By developing these skills, individuals can better navigate their emotional landscape, reduce the power of internal triggers, and ultimately support their journey to lasting recovery. 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. Some, people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction feel as though they can’t mix and mingle without the use of substances. The removal of external triggers can be as simple as a change in scenery or new group of friends.

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Dealing with triggers in recovery can feel like an ongoing battle – and that’s because, in large part, it is. Triggers are a lasting, repetitive reminder of your substance use and are unique to you and your situation. They can also look different for each individual and could be a person, place, situation, or even an object. Professional support can be invaluable in helping individuals recognize and navigate external triggers. Therapists and counselors can provide tools and strategies tailored to each individual’s unique circumstances and triggers. In addition, support groups can offer a safe space to share experiences and learn from others who are dealing with similar challenges.

Get out a sheet of paper and write down as many internal and external triggers as possible. Keeping track of your experiences and what was happening before you began to experience symptoms can help you better understand your triggers. A post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) trigger can include any sound, sight, smell, thought, or another reminder of a traumatic event. Such triggers are sometimes apparent, but they can also be subtle and more challenging to identify.

Block Triggering Content on Social Media

At the New England Recovery Center (NERC), our addiction treatment program helps people identify their individual triggers and learn coping skills and other tools for managing them. And by talking to a support group or mental health professional about how a trigger makes one feel, it can help to process the trigger and establish an effective response. Triggers are social, environmental or emotional situations that https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/heroin-addiction-treatment-full-recovery-is-possible/ remind people in recovery of their past drug or alcohol use. While triggers do not force a person to use drugs, they increase the likelihood of drug use. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that 40 to 60 percent of people treated for substance use disorders relapse. In the context of mental health conditions, internal triggers are the cognitive and emotional cues that lead to a relapse of symptoms.