How to Recognize and Avoid Triggers to Relapse

One day you're walking down the street, feeling good. Someone walks by in a clown outfit, and the next thing you know, you find yourself in a bar drinking like you did before you quit. What happened? The clown outfit was a trigger. Maybe your last drunk was at your child's birthday party and all you can remember is the clown.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Think back to some of the "reasons" you drank after a period of clean time. What were some of the common element of the situation? How were you feeling? Make a list.

2. Look back at your list and try to identify patterns. These will show you triggers or situations (both internal and external) that make you drink or drug.

3. Once you come up with a list of triggers for drinking or drugging, you need to come up with alternatives to these activities. Staying sober is all about changing habits. Our habits keep us sick, and we must put healthy ones in its place.

4. Some triggers cannot be avoided. For these, talk to people close to you to come up with ways to deals with feelings or situations that make you drink or drug.

Tips & Warnings

• Bars and places you used to drink are obvious triggers. Stay away from them.
• Work out your feelings. The most important thing to remember is that they are not real. Talk to people close to you to help you through it. Don't be afraid to get help.

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[ashiflett]

on 12/4/2007 Great article!