AVOIDING RELAPSE TRIGGERS

It is important for the newly recovering substance abuser to know what their relapse triggers are. Some aftercare counselors will have each client write these down and present them to the group.

What Are Relapse Triggers?

Relapse triggers may be a particular friend(s) or acquaintance(s) that you used to drink/use with. Just being with these people will set off old patterns of thinking and feelings that lead to relapse. You may have to decide not to see these people for a while until you have more sobriety. Discuss it at A.A./N.A. meetings, treatment and recovery group members as well as family and close non-drinking, non-using friends.

Or a relapse trigger can be a particular place(s). Perhaps you never went to a sports game without drinking beer or getting high. Then this is an occasion to avoid until you have more time in recovery. Bars should go without saying. Bowling might have to wait if it was a drinking activity. Fill in the events and activities for yourself as honestly as you can. Then discuss them with your aftercare counselor, at A.A. and N.A. meetings, with your A.A. and N.A. sponsor, and with family members and close friends.

Another relapse trigger is often H.A.L.T. - Getting too hungry, angry, lonely or tired can each lead to relapse. Getting a combination of these puts you in a very dangerous state. It is always important to mind H.A.L.T. in recovery, but especially so in early recovery.

Eat when you are hungry. Don't skip meals or go on fasts. Don't let anger sizzle. Talk out disagreements. Pray for those you resent. Go for a jog to clear your psyche of resentments that won't clear. Don't become a recluse. Get to the meetings. Go out for coffee afterwards, especially if you live alone. Don't let yourself get too lonely. Volunteer so you have an extra opportunity to be around people. And, finally, don't let yourself get too tired. Exhaustion thinks it needs a drink or a drug when all it needs is a good eight hours of sleep. Don't let yourself go sleepless. Don't be so busy you don't make enough time to sleep. It's important to your health and to your recovery.

Call someone - write out a list of people you can call when you feel dangerously close to using and/or drinking. Take names from the phone lists that are passed around A.A./N.A. meetings, or just ask group members for their phone numbers. You might respond more to someone new in recovery like yourself. Get phone numbers from group members in your aftercare group. Don't forget to list your A.A./N.A. sponsor. If you don't have one, get at least a temporary one today and list them. Show this list to the people mentioned above and ask them if they think it's enough. If not, ask more people for their numbers.