A trigger is a stimulus which has been repeatedly associated with the preparation for, anticipation of, or use of drugs and/or alcohol. These stimuli include people, things, places, times of day, and emotional states. People, places, objects, feelings and times can cause cravings. An important part of recovery from addiction, involves stopping the craving process. Begin to identify your specific triggers and learn to deal with them in a different way.It takes effort to identify and stop a drug-use related thought. The further the thoughts progress; the more likely the individual is to use drugs. Triggers, thoughts, and craving can run together.
The usual “trigger” sequence, however, is as follows:
Trigger > Thought > Craving > Use
The key to dealing with this process, is to not allow it to start. Stopping the thought when it first begins, helps prevent it from building into a craving. Here are a few thought-stopping techniques: visualization, snapping, relaxation, calling someone, distraction (thought substitution), prayer, going to a 12-step meeting, reading recovery or spiritual literature, playing the “whole tape exercise.”