How do you deal with triggers? (plz dont move to social)

[Cassie415]

I'm just wondering if after you guys stopped you had to deal with triggers and if so what you did? Pretty much everywhere I go is some sort of trigger of a place I like to do oxycontin. Certain people who call me are huge triggers, as they used to call me daily and I would go get oc with them. Even little things like, there is a marble part in the front of my car that I always would stop on my way to places and do a line right there on it. Now whenever I am driving and I look at it I feel a wave of anxiety and desire to do oc. Places in town that I drive by, like certain parking lots are also huge triggers and release a whole bunch of cravings that I can't shake off for at least a good twenty minutes. So I was just wondering if anyone else had this happen to them? Is there anything I can do??

[123456m]

Those are beautiful spots you can learn to enjoy when clean. The triiggers others are speaking of are places where they picked up there drugs etc.
I do not live in your area but years ago I did. I will tell you a secret spot. Where a magical forest is right in the heart of Berkely.   If you know where the rose gardens are there is a park on the other side of the road you will see a walkway. Take that walk way until you see like a thousand stairs going to the sky do not go up but make a left on a small path and follow it alll te  way up you will see a place to sit a board over a running stream through redwoods. My most fave spot in the world now you have a special place.
Enjoy

[Cassie415]

I get what you guys are all saying about avoiding...but the trigger spots are like my fav places where i live lol. Like the headlands overlookin the golden gate bridge/city, a shopping center with a cafe that I go to like everyday, san francisco--certain places i used to get it from in the city.  BUt i guess i can try to avoid or distract myself when nearby them. Thanks guys

[worried878]

triggers became clear to me when i quit  as weeks went by i had a self awareness i have never had in my life...many people proabaly never see themselves so clearly and i was thankful for cing it so clearly..and then i knew what i had to work on...one of the positive things i found about recovery

[IBKleen]

You said it all in your post: People, Places & Things.

When I got clean I had to make a lot of changes. I don't hang out with the same people anymore and I don't go to the same places. In the beginning I found myself taking detours to get somewhere because, like you said, driving past some place would set me off.

I think it would be helpful for you to begin making these changes. Make yourself unavailable to the people and places, and certainly the "things".

Good luck!

[SophieShine]

Hey Cassie!

The triggers part is definitely a hard one, you would not believe what I did to avoid certain places or certain people.
I found out a great trick to avoid most of them, when I go to town, ipod on my ears with music I love and I hide behind a cam!!! It's actually 2 ppl on here that gave me the idea!!! I am so in "my bubble" that the world around me literally disappears. I used to have  the same feeling when I was painting and I was on the look for that deep inner peace I ounce knew. You will have to find out a way to deal with every day's life and "protect yourself".
I noticed that when you get to know what your triggers are, you can avoid a lot of them. Change routes, try to make new friends, change your centers of interests, definitely throw away your old address book, and find something you love and focus on it as much as you can.
I don't wanna sound harsh, but cut all relationship with the past that is related to you using. It's hard, I know, but you have to think about yourself.
You will always have the trigger that gets you by surprise but the more you learn about them, the less chance you have to get stuck with your mind.
When the trigger hits me, I try to focus on something different, It's hard at 1st ~wow did it drain me !!!~ but now it became kinda automatic, it's difficult to explain... I start shooting pix like mad or I put on super loud music, sorry for the neighbors!!! lol. I go for a run in the middle of the night...
What it all comes down to is that I re-wire my brain to something that gives me joy and hold on to that feeling as long as I can.

I'm sorry for the babbling, I hope I could help a lil...
All my strength and support to you.
xoxoxoxoxo. sophie.

[Florida_Guy737]

Hi Cassie....

Yep, triggers/cravings are hard but you can push thru...as you have been doing.  I used exercise as an alternative and that has worked for me.  Being a prior jock helped as well but it was something I had a passion for so I could really focus on it.  If you have a passion for something else that you can really dive into, the other activity will keep you on track and give you something else to think about as you work through your cravings/triggers.

One more thing....I changed my life routine a bit to decrease the triggers.  If your car is a trigger, can you trade that car for another?  Can you avoid driving by the parking lot?  Can you stay away from prior contacts that used meds?

Lots of this depends on you....

Keep Posting,

Guy