DRUG EDUCATION:- TRIGGERS AND HOW IT LEADS TO RELAPSE (PART I)

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. All three usually work together to create a drug craving.


 INTERNAL TRIGGERS

Internal triggers are feelings that people have before or during drinking or using drugs. For instance, some people may feel insecure about sex and think they have to drink alcohol to relax before having sex. Because they always drink when they feel insecure, that feeling becomes a trigger to drink. Other people may use drugs when they feel angry, lonely, depressed, sad, or bored, but any feelings can become an internal trigger.


EXTERNAL TRIGGERS

External triggers are the people, places, and things associated with drinking or using drugs. Some people's external triggers might be places where they bought or used drugs, certain bars and clubs they hung out at while they were drinking or getting high, people they drank or used drugs with, and even certain days and times, such as Friday nights and holidays.



SENSORY TRIGGERS

Sensory triggers are related to the senses of sight, sound, taste, and touch. They might include certain types of lights seen on a dance floor, certain styles of music, specific songs, or the taste of a drug. For example, powdered sugar or artificial sweetener, which resembles powdered drugs, can be a powerful trigger for people who have used cocaine, methamphetamine (ice), or heroin. Cravings can also be triggered by a cup of coffee or a cigarette, if you used to have these things while using drugs.

Triggers can affect anyone who drinks or uses other drugs; those who have done so for many years will have especially strong triggers. Over time, the connection between the trigger and the drinking or drug use gets stronger. People who fight these strong triggers often lose the fight and relapse. However, when people learn to interrupt the triggers, they can stop them from leading to relapse. To get a better idea of how to interrupt them, it helps to know how triggers work.

THE FOUR STEPS FROM TRIGGER TO RELAPSE


STEP 1: TRIGGER
Because of the strong connection between the trigger and the drug, the trigger goes to work automatically. (For example, when you see your old dealer at the bank after you have withdrawn some cash. Seeing him leads automatically to step 2.)

STEP 2: THOUGHT
The trigger will make a person think about drugs, even if just for a second. (You try to comport yourself and decide to stop and say hello to your old dealer. A brief conversation about the last time seeing at a party, and you start to think about the last time you guys smoked.

STEP 3: CRAVING
If a person continues to think about drugs, it becomes more likely that he or she will have a craving. At this point, the person may feel some physical change, like a faster heartbeat or sweaty palms.
(You start to feel nervous while talking to your dealer. Your dealer convinced you to stop by his house to pick up the invites for the next party.)

STEP 4: USE
As the craving grows and physical changes affect the person, it becomes easier to decide to use drugs. Sometimes this process can occur in your brain, and you don't even realize how powerful it is until you are on your way to get high. (As you get to his house, you get flooded with mixed emotions, remembering your past life, and then he offered you drugs and you smoked.)

 

Take a brief moment watch a video on mental health disorders and learn how small steps can make a big difference.

Click on the link below.

Mental health disorders and challenges of care

#socratesepistles


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