Drug Rehab Fort Lauderdale | 3 Most Common Relapse Triggers

Patients in addiction treatment will learn numerous skills to accomplish personal growth in sobriety. Among them, one of the most important is how to deal with common relapse triggers. Clients at our drug rehab in Fort Lauderdale begin this process in addiction therapy, where they work with a therapist to identify the triggers that trouble them the most. They then work out a two-pronged strategy to 1) prevent these triggers from arising and to 2) alleviate them when they pop up. Below are three of the most common relapse triggers that clients at our drug rehab Fort Lauderdale face every day, and why it is so important to have a plan in mind when facing them.

Environmental and Social Cues

Some common relapse triggers, such as environmental and social cues, primarily work because of the relationship between drugs and the human brain. Over time, the user begins to associate their environment with their substance abuse. This is why an alcoholic may become antsy when sitting at the bar, but not when walking past the wine shelf at their local grocery store. The availability of alcohol is the same in each location, but only one triggers memories of drinking.

Seeking drug rehab in Ft. Lauderdale will put you in a safe facility, removed from people and places associated with your drug and alcohol use. By the time you leave, you will have a new routine complete with new mental and behavioral associations. Maintaining this new routine will make it easier to adopt a lifestyle that allows you to steer clear of environmental cues related to your addiction.

Sudden Loss or Trauma

One of the strongest benefits of drug rehab in Fort Lauderdale is the sheer sense of community. By entering treatment in a location with a strong and supportive recovery community, you ensure that you will be able to receive the help you need in the unfortunate case of sudden loss of trauma. Sobriety doesn’t always make life easier. Some recovering addicts and alcoholics suffer injury, illness or the loss of a loved one early in their recovery. Participating in a strong aftercare program will provide you the necessary resources to remember that you are not alone, and you do not have to give up on yourself when the going gets rough. Sometimes, all you need to get through the darkness is a little bit of love and support.

Chronic Emotional Stress

While the sudden onset of negative emotion due to loss or trauma can be shocking, one of the more common relapse triggers is the experience of negative emotions having built up over time. Those who enter drug rehab Fort Lauderdale following a relapse often say that they don’t know what happened. Then, after a bit of digging, they realize they were actually unhappy for quite some time leading up to the day they used.

Emotions considered to be common relapse triggers may include anger, depression, anxiety, fear, guilt or loneliness. Even if you do not immediately feel the urge to use, you should recognize these emotions as possible warning signs and face them head-on before they catch you in a moment of weakness.