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                  

[ang_811]

Thanks cleanmom if u have nemore u think of letme know. This hasbeen one of the most helpful threads I've been on

[stilltrying1965]

Hey bud its took me13yrs tofigure out my triggers (here i go )

1The guilt,giving my wife H, My family finding outabout my H addition, I feel i have emmbaressed them, there from i was a junky a junky uses one of my fav excuses  to use they expected me to use H so i did but thats what the expeted me to do soi thughtthatswhat theywanted met do
2 when i feel in under preasure i used to try the easy way ( numd it )
3 meeting lld friends having to much time on my hands. now i do housewrk the garden walk the dog exerise anything to take my mind of drugsmost of all i use my head i could not g through the w/ds i keep thinking im ging t die, It sares me iv been through them lots of times but the last two have been the wrst. I wont be going through c/t ever again this guy has learened his lesson the hard way.....James
GREAT PSR GNARLY

[dominosarah]

It is hard for me to see some of the old people i hung out with come in all jacked up on pills.  I dont wait on them and my co workers always help me out.  Air freshners for cars also will get to me at times and it will take me back to my using days.  I also avoid pharmacies as much as i can as it makes my mouth water just seeing those bottles.  If i do have to go to one of them i bring someone along with me otherwise i wouldnt actually be able to go thru with it.  Its like i just freeze up.  I guess when i really think about this it is the smells that get to me the most, shampoos that i used while using, lotions, etc.  This was a good post gnarly and you really have me thinking now!!!         sara

[mikchez]

TRIGGERS
TRIGGERS are on guns and when they are squeezed they discharge depending on where there pointed there going to cause some major damage.
I have a sister that decided to pull the trigger.
I guess I don’t care much for the word trigger
I have to focus on recovery all the time I can't entertain those thoughts or triggers I have given up my right to self medicate or use.
For me a trigger is putting that gun to my head and squeezing the trigger that’s what triggers are to me.
Nothing more than mental suicide.. Thanks for getting me to thinking about triggers. God Bless and Give Peace a Chance, Mikchez

[cleanmom]

Sarah, your response really got me thinking, with the smells. I have that same problem with the smells and with music tool. Songs that were on or that played a lot on the radio when i was using. Its like really bad emotional flashbacks, like my senses have memories all their own.........

[dominosarah]

Music can be a reminder more than a trigger for me as my music is such a big part of my life i find it more healing than anything.  Thank God music doesnt have a smell.