10 Most Common Triggers of Substance Abuse Relapse
- Withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, nausea, physical weakness)
- Post-acute withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, irritability, mood swings, poor sleep)
- Poor self-care (stress management, eating, sleeping)
- People (old using friends)
- Places (where you used or where you used to buy drugs)
- Things (that were part of your using, or that remind you of using)
- Uncomfortable emotions (H.A.L.T.: hungry, angry, lonely, tired)
- Relationships and sex (can be stressful if anything goes wrong)
- Isolation (gives you too much time to be with your own thoughts)
- Pride and overconfidence (thinking you don't have a drug or alcohol problem, or that it is behind you)
Emotional Relapse
In Emotional Relapse, You're Not Thinking About Using. but Your Emotions and Behaviors Are Setting You up For a Possible Relapse in The Future.
The signs of emotional relapse are:
- Anxiety
- Intolerance
- Anger
- Defensiveness
- Mood swings
- Isolation
- Not asking for help
- Not going to meetings, program, therapy, etc.
- Poor eating habits
- Poor sleep habits
