Dealing with Triggers/Cravings...

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Bluelighter
Joined
May 2, 2010
Messages
50
Ok...I hope this is the right place to post.

How do you all deal with triggers (when trying to get clean of course)? Two things that set me off are when I start to feel good (get that "hey it's gonna be alright, why not go grab a few?" feeling) and when my parents get on my case (grew up in controlling, smothering religious family, beyond scope of this thread but they are very controlling).

I'd like to hear from people with experience rather than the stuff I am reading or from a book.

What kind of methods have worked for you?
 
For me, in quitting anything- Identifying the triggers and eliminating them is number one.
In the case of feeling good being a trigger, replace the bad habit with something positive.
You feel good, so do something else you like.......
Staying active is often key for people.....this can be physically or mentally.
Some people find exercise is the best medicine, others find reading. (ex: Your parents piss you off, go for a run)
Find things you like that are healthy and work with them- surround yourself with the good things. Set goals...... :)


How long has it been since you did whatever it was that you are eliminating from your life?
What are you quitting?
I wish you the best and hope you find helpful info here in TDS!
(Welcome to BL!)
 
do something else you like.......
Staying active is often key for people.....this can be physically or mentally.

^^ this is whats up! if you're active you will be thinking about what you're doing and not using (which quite frankly this site itself can do to you). I'd say 99% of my random drug use (i.e. not at a rave or party or show etc.) is simply out of boredom.

I'd also alway try to be around other people (i mean not if they're constantly using themselves), but i find that having another human to engage with even in the simplest way (talking, playing video games etc.) is more helpful than most other things.
 
thanks Ocean. I haven't been off for very long to tell you the truth. I been way to sedentary (I am a former athlete) and I know thats having a negative effect but getting into a new routine has proven difficult I guess.

I just dread that overly seductive feeling- when its a Sunday evening, you're home and comfortable and hydros crosses your mind (how perfect would this be!). That trips me up.

I am quitting various opiates- T3, oxy, hydro, trams basically.
 
^You might want to checkout some of our Opiate threads.
At TDS's front page there is a search area in the right top corner of the thread listings.
You can search specific things to see how others have dealt with the w/d's of various opiates.
You might also checkout our Opiate Mega Thread for support from others in a similar situation to you <3

Best of luck.
 
Keep myself so busy, drugs are usually kept out of mind.

I also avoid people I know will be a bad influence on my sobriety. This is the worst part, for me, about trying to stay off drugs; people misinterpret your presence as you cutting off their friendship. :\ I don't answer my phone, and wont reply to messages if certain people want to see me. At the end of the day, being away and clean from drugs is more important to me than maintaining a toxic friendship.
 
this is the most important and personal parts that can be controlled, to help one stay off drugs.

i haven't drink in two or three years. at the end of my last binge, this russian women would usually be working nights at a particular convenience/liquor store. i had been back in the store numerous times since, but i went in recently and she was working. the whole feeling if those days/months started flooding back, this was very overwhelming, and the second time i have felt 'triggered' since stopping.

immediately i thought about the nasty negative side-effects, the heart-ache, desperation, hiding, the law, $, etc.
thinking about this stuff too long isn't good, so if you have time away from 'said drug', thinking of the positive that has happened in the meantime, current motivations, and what actually needs to be done, or could be done may hopefully help sway your train-of-thought.
addicts are endlessly manipulating, even when it comes to yourself, after a strong enough moment you may leave yourself open to excuses later, or open to external excuses also.

you need the ability to recognize these subtle thoughts/emotions, the ability to "divert" them or "revert" them into something positive, or neutral.
;)
 
I am really considering stopping my tramadol habit. It has gone on for 7 years. I am running out very early this month and I am getting tired of this merry go round. This thread gave me hope.

Withdrawal scares the hell out of me, but I am seriously getting tired of being controlled by this drug.
 
our friend PillThrill may have some advice for tramadol w/d.
its a tough one, and professional help sounds like it may be needed after seven years. this is not something i would attempt, or suggest otherwise.

once you are off it, i bet you will be pretty over it after so long...
keep us updated if you do make this decision.
 
Thought blocking. I had a doctor long ago that would tell me whenever I would get a thought or urge to use immediately stop/block it and think of something else. It sounds hard and it is when you first start trying it but after you become repetitious with it, it starts to become habitual. Easier and easier as time goes on. I know when I let my thoughts snowball in my head, pretty soon I can actually visualize that dope in my hand and splat the snowball hits a wall and I get high. Entertaining those thoughts is what wrecked me so many times.

peace.
seedless
 
i mean i get the hole trigger thing but its like man the fuck up.

thats how i feel, all my triggers i pass everyday/see and shit and its just like makes me feel better cuz i relize how much of a loser i was being and how much of a better person i am then everyone else still using
 
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