7 Most Common Addiction Triggers

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that requires ongoing treatment to remain sober, so your recovery journey does not end upon completing a rehab program. You must continue to manage your condition using the skills you learned during treatment to maintain long-term recovery.

Oftentimes, people in early recovery struggle with triggers that make them more likely to relapse. In fact, relapse is so common that 40 to 60% of people in recovery experience it.[1] However, being aware of the most common addiction triggers and how to avoid them will prevent you from experiencing a relapse.

The 7 most common triggers for substance abuse include:

1. Emotions

The first addiction relapse trigger you should be aware of is uncomfortable emotions. When you are abusing drugs or alcohol, usually you are doing so to cope with emotions that you do not want to experience. For example, people suffering from addiction often use substances to combat feelings of anger, sadness, loneliness, or emotional pain.

Once you become sober, all of these emotions will begin to impact you once again, and since you are not used to actually feeling them, they can trigger cravings for drugs and alcohol. This is why it is so important to attend therapy and learn healthy coping mechanisms that will help you deal with your emotions effectively.

2. Social Isolation

Another common addiction trigger is social isolation. Oftentimes, people who abuse substances end up retreating from their relationships with friends and family members. While they do this to ensure that their loved ones are not impacted by their addiction, this often fuels the fire in their substance abuse, causing them to sink further into addiction.

When you get sober, you might still be recovering from the social isolation you faced during addiction. For example, many people have broken relationships that they have to work at to heal over time. Since social isolation can make you want to abuse drugs or alcohol, you must become connected in a recovery community that will support you while you heal your relationships.

3. “H.A.L.T”

“H.A.L.T” is an acronym for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. All of these feelings can be serious triggers for relapse, making you feel uncomfortable to the point that you want to use drugs and alcohol. As a result, “H.A.L.T” is used to remind you to take extra care of yourselves when you are feeling these emotions.

4. Relationships

If you are in recovery, you have probably heard someone saying it is best to avoid intimate relationships until after one year. This is because stress from relationships can be a major trigger for relapse, making it difficult for people in early recovery.

When you are in a relationship, chances are that you will experience arguments and possibly even breakups. These experiences can be extremely hard to manage, which is why you should avoid relationships until you know how to use healthy coping mechanisms in stressful times.

5. Stress

Another common trigger for addiction relapse is stress. Whether the stress is coming from a new job, a deadline in school, or arguments with loved ones, it can be a powerful emotion. In fact, many people begin abusing drugs or alcohol to combat feelings of stress in the first place.

Since stress can be a huge motivator for relapse, you should avoid getting that new job or taking that big life risk until you are confident in your coping mechanisms, immersed in a supportive community, and in a routine of attending support groups and therapy sessions.

6. Overconfidence

One of the biggest triggers for addiction relapse is overconfidence. After some time, you might begin to feel like you are secure in your recovery. While feeling secure is a good thing, you must avoid becoming overconfident.

When someone becomes overconfident in recovery, they might begin to slack on their maintenance techniques. This could look like going to fewer meetings, quitting therapy, and even sliding back into unhealthy coping mechanisms like isolating yourself from others. When this happens, you are more likely to return to drug and alcohol abuse.

7. Being Around Alcohol or Drug Use

While in recovery, life around you does not stop happening. Friends still have weddings, birthday parties, and even holiday celebrations. While you should not miss these occasions, it is important to be ready for them before you attend one.

People who are not in recovery often have a drink or two at a party. Some people might even engage in recreational drug use. As a result, you should be extremely confident in your ability to use healthy coping mechanisms before attending that wedding or birthday party which may include drinking or drug use.

Find Help for Drug Addiction and Alcoholism

If you or a loved one has just completed an addiction treatment program, you should know that your recovery is not over. One of the most difficult times in a recovering addict’s life can be the transition from treatment to independent living. Thankfully, a sober living program can provide you with the structure and accountability necessary to make this transition a successful one.

To learn more about our sober living program, contact New You Sober Living today.

References:

1. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): The Science of Addiction Treatment and Recovery, Retrieved November 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery