How To Overcome Triggers in Recovery
If you are here, then you have already taken the first step to overcoming your addiction. Believe it or not, recognizing that you might have a problem is a huge step, and the fact that you are doing that today is certainly something to be proud of. If you want to stop yourself from being triggered and falling back into old habits, then you first need to recognize what a trigger is, so you know how to handle them.
What are Addiction Triggers
Triggers can be people, places, scents, harmful substances, or essentially anything that is a reminder of intense or distractable emotion. Triggers are reminders that often put people in a place of anger, distress, frustration, and pain. Triggers can easily be identified by simply looking at the way that a person reacts to something. Triggers can occur when someone remembers something specific, or when they have an uncomfortable experience. The individual may then lash out, choose to cope in an unhealthy way, or break down.
Types of Triggers
- Psychological
- Nostalgic
- Social
- Emotional
- Visual
Triggers can also be broken down into two major categories. You have internal triggers and external triggers. Some examples include shame, inconsistency, loss of control, the feeling of being unsafe or even PTSD. Triggers can also be specific places, such as a home, or a street.
Handling Your Triggers
If you want to handle your triggers, you should know that there are healthy coping skills and unhealthy coping skills. Some of which can be found below.
Good Coping Skills
- Mindfulness
- Support groups
- Action
- Peer recovery coaches
- boundaries
- exercising
- Eating healthy meals
- Positive hobbies
If you practice things like mindfulness, then this will help you to focus on the present moment. It will also help you to detach from any painful or even distressing experience so that you can reduce stress while also thriving without the damaging coping mechanisms that you may have been using.
Unhealthy Coping Skills
- Misdirected anger
- Self-harm
- Compulsions
- Making excuses
- Binge eating
- Lying to those around you
- Bottling up emotions
- Befriending people who unhealthy for your growth
How Does Something Become a Trigger?
Triggers can either be positive or they can be negative. A negative trigger tends to have the most damaging impact. Common triggers will often lead to you experiencing frustration, depression, broken relationships, and even poor self-esteem. Triggers become more of an issue if they are frequent. For example, a child who grew up in a household of abuse may become fearful or anxious when seeing people fight. They may then lash out, distance themselves, or feel afraid and withdraw. Emotions such as anger or guilt can also surface when someone is triggered, and this can spiral into bad behavior or further compulsions. The nature of triggers can run deep and they can be traumatizing.
You Can Overcome Your Triggers
If you know what your triggers are then you are now able to take steps that will help you to overcome them. The main thing that you need to do is avoid giving your triggers power over you. You need to take that power and use it for yourself, in a positive and controlled way. When you come to us at Peaks Recovery, you will be surrounded by professionals who can provide you with around-the-clock care and support. We can also provide you with the guidance you need to adopt healthy coping mechanisms that will go on to support you throughout every stage of your recovery.
If you want to find out more then please contact us today. You can also use this contact form if you’d rather send us an online message. We will then connect you with a professional from our team.
Reach Out to Peaks Recovery Today
If you (or someone you know) are suffering from a mental health disorder or substance use disorder, then get help from Peaks Recovery. We offer both inpatient and outpatient services designed to let you restore your life to normality and build the future that you deserve.
Don’t wait. Get in touch with us today.
