Socrates Epistles

  Dealing with Triggers The first step in dealing with triggers is IDENTIFYING them. People are often unaware of many of the triggers for their substance use, even though others may recognize them easily. For this reason, feedback from other people can really help you identify your own triggers.   After you know what the triggers are you can start AVOIDING them. Once you have identified certain high-risk situations, people and other triggers, you need to try to avoid them. It may require some work to meet new people, find new places to go, and get rid of things associated with drinking and drug use, but it is important to do so to stop them from affecting you. Triggers can affect you for a long time after you stop using weeks, months, and sometimes even longer.   Some triggers can’t be avoided; instead, you will need to INTERRUPT them. For some people, weekends, holidays, or night time are triggers that, of course, cannot be made to go away. But you c...

Addiction is a stage of dependence on a substance. Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to use a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative outcomes. Addiction also called substance use disorder is a disease that affects the user’s brain and behavior that leads to an inability to control the use of a legal drug or medication. INITIATION STAGES During this time, the individual tries substance for the first time. This can occur at almost any point in a person's life. The reasons a person can experiment with drugs can vary widely. But two common reasons are linked to either curiosity or Peer Pressure. NOTE : Just because someone has tried a drug, it does not mean that person has become an addict.   The decision can also be impacted by other factors related to a drug rule in an individual’s life, such as   Drug Availability!   Family Environment!   Mental Health conditions like anxiety and d...

Thinking and talking about cravings for alcohol and other drugs can make some people crave them more. Many people do not even want to talk about relapse because they are scared that it might cause them to drink or use. With this in mind, why would a treatment program choose to discuss relapse and drug craving? The reasons are simple. Thinking and even dreaming about alcohol and other drugs is a natural part of recovery. Learning how to stop these thoughts from turning into cravings, however, can help prevent a person from returning to drug use. Without education about addiction, most addicted people would relapse. However, by learning how relapse occurs, understanding how to prevent relapse, and learning to identify the warning signs that lead to relapse, people can learn to avoid relapse. TYPES OF TRIGGERS Triggers are feelings, experiences, people, places, and things that you associate with your drinking or drug use. Different types of triggers exist: Internal, External, and Sensory....

Today, as I sit down to pen this journal entry, I’m reflecting on what resilience means to me. It’s not just a buzzword or a fleeting motivational quote, it’s the quiet strength that has carried me through life’s unpredictable waves. My journey with resilience hasn’t been a straight path; it’s been a winding road marked by stumbles, triumphs, and moments of profound growth. I remember the first time I truly understood resilience. It was a few years ago when I faced a significant setback, relapsing three times in a space of 4 years. The initial shock felt like a punch to the gut. I questioned my worth, my skills, and my future. But in that low moment, I found a spark of determination. I started small while I was institutionalized: Putting aside my negative emotions, in detail i began to identify my triggers, knowing when to avoid them, also how to interrupt the triggers, and finally talking about them. Each step, no matter how tiny, was a brick in the foundation of my comeback. Within m...