Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction does not happen overnight. Even after you complete substance abuse treatment, the work is not over. You have to learn to re-engage with the world without using the drugs or alcohol that you once relied on. Relapsing doesn’t mean that you can’t ever stop using substances or that you are a weak person. However, avoiding relapse is ideal, and the best way to do that is to avoid triggers that could cause cravings. These vary, but most people in recovery do well to avoid these potential triggers.
Still-Addicted Friends
There is a social aspect to addiction that you may miss when you’re in recovery. You may not have yet found a new circle of friends, so it’s natural to want to gravitate back to the friends you had when you were using. Despite the pull, it’s crucial to stay away from old friends who are still in the lifestyle. The temptation to use again is too great, no matter how much resolve you think you have. The risk of relapse is simply too big.
Old Hangouts
Nostalgia is powerful. When you visit places, like certain bars or neighborhoods, that you used to hang out in when you were using drugs and alcohol, the tug of memories may make you want to use again. It is easy to rewrite history and develop memories of those places and times that are better than the actual events were. It’s important to start building a new life, with new favorite spots, when you are in recovery, and avoid looking backwards.
Stress
It’s normal to feel emotionally fragile in the early days of your recovery. If you had a long-term substance abuse problem, sobriety can initially feel strange. As you are making this transition, keep your stress level under control as much as possible. Avoid big changes and give yourself ample time to adjust.
Las Encinas Hospital’s Aurora Behavioral Health Care is here to support you in every stage of recovery. We can give you the tools you need to beat substance abuse for life. Call us at (888) 348-2165 to learn more about how we can help you.