What are your triggers? I remember my therapist asking me this question very direct when mentioned to her that I felt like having a drink. Well, where should I start was my response and for the next 30 minutes or so she allowed me to lay it all out there and by the time the session was over, I no longer wanted that drink. I felt better just venting about some of the same triggers that were making me feel a certain type of way.
Being someone who is in recovery themselves I can’t express the importance of understanding your triggers and the coping mechanisms you can rely on. Triggers come in different forms to say the least. Emotional, situational and environmental. If you are living a life of sobriety and are choosing to overcome substance use disorder daily it’s not a bad idea to take a inventory of what your triggers are so you can have a proactive approach with your daily living.
It is important to note for those of us in recovery the impact of our triggers. While I group at our detox center one afternoon the topic was “the amount of impact” as we discussed the magnitude and quote in quote levels to our triggers. Triggers can cause emotional as well as physical responses and can affect recovery depending on the situation.
One thing we stress at Believe detox center is journaling to track triggers. This excercise allows us to be more self aware in our recovery process while identifying in live time and processing the trigger as it comes about. It can be a really powerful tool in processing these triggers as they arise.
That being said, once triggers are identified, the next step is to identify the coping mechanisms that you are comfortable with. These mechanisms will aid you in successfully maintaining a life of sobriety. For some it’s breathing excercises, mindfulness and grounding. For others it could be exercise or creative hoboes such as painting. Explore healthy options until you find to ones that work for you.
Once you identify these coping mechanisms, I always recommend that you create a personalized coping plan. We work on helping our residents develop these prior to them leaving by helping them identify the coping strategies they want to implement. Remember flexibility and adaptation are a part of the process of sobriety as over time you find better what works for you.
Of course utilizing your support systems can’t be left out. For some coming to a detox center like Believe is the first step to detoxing, getting support and developing ways to cope in a healthy manner. Seek professional help whenever needed and also understand the power of peer support. Build a network of recovery and sobriety as you feel comfortable which will only strengthen your foundation when it comes to overcoming triggers as they come.
