During treatment for drug addiction, participants will have to address addictive behaviors. However, for addiction recovery to really progress and have long-lasting effects, participants need to address underlying emotions and thoughts that trigger those behaviors. At Duke City Recovery Toolbox in Albuquerque, New Mexico, helping our participants identify triggers is one of the key components in every outpatient treatment program.
What Are Triggers?
Substance abuse and addiction typically begin as an attempt to numb physical, psychological and/or emotional discomfort. To end addiction, then, users must investigate the thoughts and feelings they were trying to escape by drinking or using drugs. Without identifying triggers, participants are likely to put themselves back into situations that encourage substance abuse, making any progress in treatment short-lived.
Why Recognizing Triggers Is So Important
Drug addiction is more than a problem behavior. If it were that easy, every cold turkey attempt would be a success story. In truth, it takes more to successfully overcome addiction than simply breaking a habit. Real and lasting progress is unlikely to happen until a participant understands and begins to address their triggers.
How to Learn to Recognize Your Triggers
Learning to recognize your triggers is a complicated process, one that is often difficult to figure out on your own. At Duke City Recovery Toolbox, our master-level clinicians provide the help you need. Our therapists know what questions to ask and how to listen to help you identify the feelings and thoughts that drive addictive behaviors.
What Happens after You Recognize Your Triggers
“Knowing is half the battle,” as the saying goes. Once you identify your triggers, you need to know what to do next. Your treatment team at Duke City Recovery Toolbox will help you with that, too.
During individual and/or family therapy, we help you to:
- Develop healthy coping techniques when triggering thoughts and emotions arise
- Strategies to minimize or eliminate triggers in your environment, which may mean re-evaluating and/or ending some relationships, changing living situations, etc.
If reducing triggers does require major life changes, we can connect you with resources to help you find affordable housing, healthcare and social support as well. Of course, you can always rely on your treatment team, including peer support specialists, to offer the encouragement and motivation you need to make these positive (yet difficult) changes.
To begin a treatment program that includes the vital work of identifying triggers, contact us to schedule an intake appointment. You may also walk into our Albuquerque clinic anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 am Monday through Thursday.
