Alcohol Abuse Advice

Will These Hidden Drug and Alcohol Relapse Triggers Be Your Downfall?

The importance of understanding what a relapse trigger is cannot be underestimated.

A relapse trigger is that experience which can stimulate the phenomenon of craving and obsession we the return of drug or alcohol abuse. A great deal has been written about drug and alcohol relapse triggers. I would like to present a few broad concepts concerning dangerous signs and triggers that may lead to relapse.

There are many different types of relapse warning sign in relapse trigger checklists available. But in this article, rather than trying to generate a huge checklist that could cover every conceivable possible trigger for relapse, let’s just break it down into four categories and allow you to personalize it for your self and your lifestyle.

1. Any feeling, place, person, or situation where one is used alcohol or drugs in the past.

2. Any person place feeling or situation that reminds one of the emotional trauma.

3. Any time or situation where one is actually exposed to drugs and alcohol.

4. Any situation or place that generates high levels of stress or anxiety.

Upon examining those statements, it becomes readily apparent that there is no universal set of relapse warning signs for relapse triggers. Each persons unique history and unique experience will dictate what may be potentially dangerous to them. Certain people may have no problem gaining from alcohol in a restaurant at a table with drinkers, while another person may simply think of a beer advertisement in become triggered.

There are really two broad categories of relapse triggers:

1. Those that can be avoided and those that cannot be avoided. For the people, places, things and emotions that can be avoided, be prudent and overly cautious and avoid them.

2. For the situations people, places and emotions which may be relapse triggers that you cannot avoid, the solution is to set boundaries, rules and limitations. Think this situation through and have a safety valve or escape plan in place for the craving is stimulated.

Identifying relapse triggers and events is the first step in developing a comprehensive relapse prevention plan, but more is needed. A process needs to be in place to prevent triggers from stimulating using thoughts, feelings and urges.