lets talk about triggers to use

[gnarly_1]

HI EVERYONE today I was pondering over triggers and the importance of knowing what yours are....
trigger are the beginning of cravings for most of us and often lead to relapse...it is critical to learn what your triggers are and what to do with them when they occur...I am no expert by any means but I do see a substance abuse conslor once a week to help me wth my recovery and I will share some of what he has tought me...
first off let me tell you about some of my triggers so you get the idea of what I am trying to explain...
im 174 days clean and sober off methadone and the pills yet even after 6 1/2 yr of methadone "PAIN"
is a big trigger to use/abuse pills ...when I throw my back out one of the first things I get hit with is cravings
for pills...not just a pill but cravings for 1/2 a dozen at once...my mind runs wild with the thought of "if I just had a handful of pills I could make the pain stop...I share multiple addictions im clean and sober from pot and alcohol for 5 yrs this last march...but yet there are still 'TRIGGERS'  out there that haunt me...for 1 I have to avoid the liqueur isle in drug stores and supper markets because when I see whiskey bottles the color of the liquid in them makes my mouth water....you wouldn't think after 5 yrs that it would still affect me in this way but it does so I avoid those isles in the stores ....I live in phoenix az and the weather is mild most of the year...I drive around with my windows down in the car...every once in a wile ill smell some "really good stuff " not just your run of the mill refer but that "killer bud" that causes me to crave ....again one of my triggers....so what do we do with this when it happens to us...?? the first thing is captivate your thoughts...nip it in the bud so to speak...ask yourself is this rational thinking??...or is it the addict in me rearing its ugly head....first its a thought ...then it becomes an obsession..if not stoped it could very well become an action..we all need to learn what are triggers are so where on guard ageist them...for me it could be a simple as walking around the liqueur section in the grocery store or as complex as having to deal with real life "stinking thinking" about craving pills because of back pain...a few tricks I have learned that help me ...for 1 I have learned to not obsess over anything if I start off with wrong dangerous thinking I rationalize and try and nip it in the bud b/4 it gets any farther ...if this dont work and it progress into bad cravings I have learned over time that cravings usually only last briefly for me ....usually less the a 1/2hr if I was actually time it...its only a problem if I start to obsess on it....ok ive started to obsess even though I have tried not to...now is where your aftercare becomes critical...you need to call someone....although my conslor and I meet only once a week he makes himself available 24/7 if I need to talk I can get in touch with him...I value my sobriety very much so I have back ups I can call on...I have a list of several people I can go to if things start to get out of hand..I have had to make more then a few phone call in the past....it is vital that you have these go to people out there N/A and A/A are good places to meet people that can help...a good sponsor can be a life saver...now lets all jump on the band wagon and list some of our "TRIGGERS" and some of our copping skills so that we can all learn for one another...good luck and God bless.......your friend and fellow addict...Gnarly                  

[wanttobeclean]

Great post.  

Last week, I had my perfect storm of triggers...

1. Being exhausted
2. Someone saying or doing something that makes me feel like they think I'm stupid
3. Feeling overwhelmed with stuff I need to do
4. Feeling guilty (especially when it comes to my kids...when I'm at work or away from them for whatever reason, I feel I'm being a s*** mom..oh boy that was a huge one)
5. Loneliness and fear of being alone.. not necessary physically alone...I acutally like to be physically alone sometimes...but not feeling conneceted to anyone.  

So last week...
1. I was exhausted (often getting about 3-4 hours of sleep and that's it).....
2. Got insulted by an immature a-hole half my age at work who made me feel like an idiot, 3. Was overwhelmed with stuff to do...freakin' taxes due, extra shifts at work and a b'day party to prepare for. (hence the scant sleep) which led to
4. A lot of time away from my kids (and feeling like a s*** mom) and
5. Feeling disconnected from my husband because his schedule was worse than mine

I think back 2 years...
I would have had several pills, probably many at once.  
And for a brief moment, all would have seemed right in the world.  I would have been a great mom, felt in control, felt smart and whipped through a bunch of "to-do"s.

Then, when they wore off, I'd notice how bad I'd screwed up those to-do's, not remembered anything I had actually done with my kids, realize I really WAS an idiot and didn't know what I was talking about (because the drugs made me feel I didn't have to actually prepare for anything) and felt even more disconnected from my husband because of the deep down shame and unworthiness I felt because I was addicted.

But last week....
1.I drank some coffee (ok...a lot of coffee)
2. Fumed inside about the stupid idiot Doogie Howser at work...and vented to my husband about it instead of swallowing all that angst
3. Said "screw it" to many things on my to-do list.  My kid is only turning 3.  He doesn't really need much except cake, ice cream, the sandbox and us all having a great time
4. Called my kids every shift, and spent all the time I could playing with them
5. Made myself forget all the things I was irritated at hubby for, had a great date night at our favorite restaurant and talked for 3 hours.

[cleanmom]

Hi Everyone,

I thought of another trigger of mine so thought i would share.

Since i have become seriously addicted, it became much less about the high and more about just feeling normal, as i know this tends to be the case with most of us.

Anyway, because of this, lately, whenever i have to engage in a social situation i really start craving to use. I feel socially awkward since quitting and have almost come to the point where i am avoiding having to go out much, or at least anywhere that i will have to interact with people. I know this seems awful, but is where im at right now.

My therapist is working with me on this one but it's really a hard one for me. I really need to be able to interact comfortably with people again. Feeling like this is miserable and i feel like i am missing out on so much and that it's affecting my children.


I know i am kind of venting here too but thank you again everyone for your unrelenting support!!

Luv, Jacky

[rrfriedman]

For a while it felt like everywhere I looked there was a trigger: pill bottles, bathrooms, rolled up dollar bills, any kind of pill or powder, even the color white was sometimes enough to set me off. Now that I've got some 24 hours under my belt it's not so constant, but I still get triggered by those things sometimes, certain songs definitely get to me, and of course seeing pictures or videos of people using or reading/talking about getting high. Things that remind me of my ex also do it lol. In terms of emotions, I'm triggered by feeling restless, lonely, or angry, and shame and fear are big ones. When I get like that, I call a close friend, go to an AA meeting, or try and distract myself by watching a movie, listening to music, going for a walk or eating something sweet.

[blahsville]

great post...triggers are very important to identify so you can be aware and be more in control when they hit you.  When I was using Heroin 10 yrs ago there was a certain exit to the highway that I always took on the way to score drugs.  After quitting everytime I passed by it crossed my mind...trigger.  I learned how to deal with it another way.  I would say out loud with tears streaming down my face "Thank you Lord for your many blessings, thank you for the strength to keep going down the path to the true happiness in life that You want me to have"  There are certain songs that trigger me, seeing a movie or tv show about drug abuse...so many different ones.  

so here I am working through day three of kicking vicodin. Im ready for the triggers...Im bigger than they are, Ive got God on my side

Im going to do this...for myself but even more importantly for my family that needs me.

Good luck and God Bless to anyone out there who is fighting the good fight with me today, we can do this xoxo

p.s.  I like to listen to inspirational songs to help inspire me it helps

[stilltrying1965]

My coping skills are to think more positive when having negative thoughts. I also rember how bad i felt and familly felt when i was using heroin. I was not living just exsisting thats no life to lead. Now im so proud of me and Kim everyday we spend clean is a step closer to complete freedom. And thats our goal to live life the way its ment to be  (not numb with heroin ) But to feel normal smell the fresh air i really missed that just to name a few things. Thanks gnarly its a great post ,,,,,James

[gnarly_1]

HI Everyone where getting some really good responses its amassing how the slightest thing like the rattle of a pill bottle or even the smell of something from your past can be a TRIGGER that sets our minds spinning ...lets keep going and list some more as well as your cooping skills you have learned...everyone can learn something here....Gnarly