Addiction What's your method to defeat triggers?

[Snafu in the Void]

I already know the answer is to simply wait until it passes, and they do always pass. It's about distracting yourself long enough and talking yourself down.

But I'm curious if anyone has any anecdote tips for how they avoid acute relapse triggers?

Specifically I'm dealing with alcohol cravings right now. I'll feel fine all day then suddenly around 2pm the urge to drink is overwhelming.

How do you deal with cravings?

 

[Nas47]

I already know the answer is to simply wait until it passes, and they do always pass. It's about distracting yourself long enough and talking yourself down.

But I'm curious if anyone has any anecdote tips for how they avoid acute relapse triggers?

Specifically I'm dealing with alcohol cravings right now. I'll feel fine all day then suddenly around 2pm the urge to drink is overwhelming.

How do you deal with cravings?

I suposed with alc.is more difficult,cause it's legal....and accepted from much of societies...must wait that is right..you need a luck too or guardian angel some kind.I think you do it fine.Thumbs up!

 

[Lil'LinaptkSix]

Reading has always been a major distracting force for me. The problem is finding content that will hold my attention as so much has been filtered through this mind that not much impresses me enough to keep me distracted long enough for urges to pass.
The last few years I come here for these distractions and 90% of the time it doesnt take long to find something that has the ability to curb my thoughts be it humor, tragedy or insight(s).
Physical activity also helps but I do tend to get bored with this option quickly and loathe to commit to a major project lest it is dropped in the midst of the undertaking.
Sometimes all it takes is thinking back to the issues that has been caused by the substance craved and I turn away in horror, shame or guilt.
Sometimes I give in and do the dirt anyway but feel that it is short lived and brushed aside relatively quickly and with the least amount of damage.

 

[Nurse Ratched]

Sometimes all it takes is thinking back to the issues that has been caused by the substance craved and I turn away in horror, shame or guilt.

Truer words were never spoken. That line right there has done more to keep me clean than anything else. I simply won't go back to that life. I can't go back.

Hope you are well sixxie.

 

[MountainTrails]

I think first it's being aware of them.
Then, the last thing I want to do is sit there and just wrestle with the urge. That's not been a winning strategy.

I was cautioned about euphoric recall -- remembering the fun/feeling -- and to instead focus on the train wreck as how things could easily go. Kind of a sober-minded unblinking stare at the consequences. Do I want to be there again? Nope.

If I had a 2PM urge, I'd try to find something healthy to be doing during that period. A hike/walk, cleaning, whatever. But I wouldn't sit there and think about it.

 

[Atomic_Decay]

Most of my triggers are found at the intersection of loneliness and party people. Nobody I really enjoy spending time with accepts that I don’t want to get high and they will always encourage me to join them. So my only solution is to block them on my phone and divert myself with other activities.

When I quit drinking people I knew (non-drug people) were much more accepting of abstinence and mostly were still happy enough to socialise with me. It’s very different with people who do meth.

 

[Robi]

 

[Jabberwocky]

For me, I very quickly think of everything I'd lose. I think how I'd feel if the family relationships I've rebuilt while sober and the girlfriend I have all suddenly went from my life. It would destroy me.

 

[Robi]

For me, I very quickly think of everything I'd lose. I think how I'd feel if the family relationships I've rebuilt while sober and the girlfriend I have all suddenly went from my life. It would destroy me.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Most of my triggers are found at the intersection of loneliness and party people. Nobody I really enjoy spending time with accepts that I don’t want to get high and they will always encourage me to join them. So my only solution is to block them on my phone and divert myself with other activities.

When I quit drinking people I knew (non-drug people) were much more accepting of abstinence and mostly were still happy enough to socialise with me. It’s very different with people who do meth.

This is a very interesting point and one I have experienced myself. Because I had substance abuse and alcohol abuse problems I saw exactly what you've just highlighted. The drinkers would actually have respect and understanding for my choice, maybe even go for a coffee or a walk sometimes. Others who weren't only drinkers but were very much into the substances I once loved but chose to give up responded in very odd ways...most of them got angry acting out that it was because of them that I was giving up....and that after giving up these substances I would somehow look down on them and an inferiority complex would emerge....that in itself is of course ridiculous and is also pure irony because they're assuming these matters in but in a condescending manner...probably resulting from the problems they have within themselves (which like most things in this game boil down to guilt or fear).

 

[emkee_reinvented]

I already know the answer is to simply wait until it passes, and they do always pass. It's about distracting yourself long enough and talking yourself down.

But I'm curious if anyone has any anecdote tips for how they avoid acute relapse triggers?

Specifically I'm dealing with alcohol cravings right now. I'll feel fine all day then suddenly around 2pm the urge to drink is overwhelming.

How do you deal with cravings?

For me its a roulette sometimes I give in sometimes I don't.

Today I did, do you have a clue what trigger's the trigger. For me its dreaming about past trauma or a day with lots of input/ interaction with people through appointment's.

 

[Atomic_Decay]

This is a very interesting point and one I have experienced myself. Because I had substance abuse and alcohol abuse problems I saw exactly what you've just highlighted. The drinkers would actually have respect and understanding for my choice, maybe even go for a coffee or a walk sometimes. Others who weren't only drinkers but were very much into the substances I once loved but chose to give up responded in very odd ways...most of them got angry acting out that it was because of them that I was giving up....and that after giving up these substances I would somehow look down on them and an inferiority complex would emerge....that in itself is of course ridiculous and is also pure irony because they're assuming these matters in but in a condescending manner...probably resulting from the problems they have within themselves (which like most things in this game boil down to guilt or fear).

I think many of my drug using associates really want to give it up also but are afraid of being left alone in their addiction/misery/loneliness. Keeping others from getting clean is a bit like a security blanket for them.

Some others have maybe come to rely a bit too much on my deep pockets, generous nature, and general willingness to fuel the party so long as everyone is chill and havng fun.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Keeping others from getting clean is a bit like a security blanket for them

Yep, exactly that. A kind of elasticity that you'll always bounce back towards each-other from whatever's going/gone on and return to the original form.

 

[Atomic_Decay]

Yep, exactly that. A kind of elasticity that you'll always bounce back towards each-other from whatever's going/gone on and return to the original form.

In my circle of drug fiends I think I am the only person who really has an awareness of the extent of my own problems and the price I am paying the longer I keep partying. I think this is because I have the advantage of age and many years of therapy, a couple of rehabs, recovery from a full-blown nervous breakdown, and makings it back alive from at least 3 absolute rock-bottoms.

One of the reasons I want to stay clean for a long while is the bad influence I can see I am becoming on a few less experienced people I spend a lot of time with. I am secure in life but I see some very nice people with considerable potential right on the brink of losing everything. I want to push them away for their own benefit as much as mine - in case I am their trigger or enabler. When I have offered to help them find some professional help to sort themselves out it has always been firmly rejected.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I'm trying to work out which film that's from....it is that scene from the The Witches ( The Anjelica Huston kids film one) when she gives her speech?

 

[Robi]

Hocus Pocus? or The Witches?.......love me some Bette and Angelica. they keep me from being triggered to use

 

[simstim]

I usually use a trigger lock to prevent accidental firing or unauthorized use

 

[entheologian]

I repeat to myself "you want a beer but having that beer won't take that away"

 

[jasperkent]

Specifically I'm dealing with alcohol cravings right now. I'll feel fine all day then suddenly around 2pm the urge to drink is overwhelming.

How do you deal with cravings?

For alcohol cravings, an old trick* that always worked for me was to eat something sweet. I kept candy bars handy just for this purpose. A hunk of chocolate washed down with coffee worked instantly.

* Very old-- this is mentioned in Alcoholics Anonymous (the AA "Big Book")

 

[stardust.hero]

For me, I very quickly think of everything I'd lose. I think how I'd feel if the family relationships I've rebuilt while sober and the girlfriend I have all suddenly went from my life. It would destroy me.

I also do this. Thinking it through is really helpful. Though I know at some points you aren’t even able to think it through your mind goes into autopilot. But its one I use now most often.

I also like replacement. I feel like replacing an addiction with a safer alternative softens the blow. I use non alcoholic seltzer as alcohol replacement, life savers for nicotine replacement, suboxone for heroin replacement. I’m a whole list of replacements. But I think they’re a great steppingstone to get ahold of the cravings while softening the blow and changing the way the mind reacts to triggers and eventually you can then begin to phase out the replacements as well when your mind has developed healthier patterns.